Wajid Zia to record statement in Avenfield reference today against Sharifs

ISLAMABAD: The accountability court here on Thursday adjourned the hearing of Avenfield properties reference against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family members till 10:00 am owning to absence of key prosecution witness Wajid Zia, who was also the head of Panamagate Joint Investigation Team (JIT). 

Sharif along with his sons-Hussain and Hassan – has been named in three references filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in compliance with the Supreme Court’s July 28 verdict last year, while his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt. Safdar have been nominated in a reference with regard to the Sharif family’s London-based Avenfield properties.

The former premier along with his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar reached the court to attend the hearing.

The counsel of Sharif’s daughter then requested the judge to exempt his clients from personal appearance.

The judge then granted an exemption to Sharif and his daughter from personal appearance for today’s hearing before adjourning it until 10:00 am.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Additional Director Wajid Zia will continue recording his statement today.

Last Hearing

At last hearing on March 8, the court rejected a plea filed by the NAB for inclusion of Panamagate Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probe report as part of the case record.

Accountability Judge Muhammad Bashir conducted trial in the reference filed against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar.

At the outset of court proceedings then, the defence lawyer requested the court to exempt his clients from personal appearance as the former premier is unwell.

Judge Muhammad Bashir granted permission to Sharif and his daughter Maryam to leave after marking their attendance. However, the judge directed Maryam’s spouse to remain present at the courtroom.

The hearing was then adjourned till 10:00 am owing to absence of NAB’s key witness Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Additional Director Wajid Zia, who was also the head of Panamagate JIT.

Following the recess, the court resumed hearing of the case again after the witness appeared before the court.

Zia informed the judge that he was tasked to conduct investigation into authenticity of a letter provided by the Qatari Prince, Sharif’s offshore companies named Gulf Steel and Hill Metals Company.

He said the investigation mainly surrounded the question as how the assets of former premier Nawaz Sharif and his dependants were increased manifold.

Maryam’s lawyer Amjad Pervez objected to the statement and argued that the witness was referring to an order which was not part of the record, besides his clients were not provided the copies of the ruling.

The NAB prosecutor then pleaded with the judge to include the JIT report into the case record.

The defence lawyer opposed the plea and maintained that a summary couldn’t be made a part of ongoing proceedings as evidence.

“It’s a breach of law,” he asserted.

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