Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Deputy Prosecutor General on Wednesday presented final arguments in Avenfield reference case.

During proceedings of Avenfield reference, Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi concluded his arguments stating that the Sharifs had failed to prove its source of earning.

Prosecutor reiterated his claims of Maryam Nawaz concealing the facts. He also added that the accused had mislead the bureau and were still trying to.

Abbasi further said that Hussain Nawaz shifted to London flats in 1993 and paid utility bills, while Hasan Nawaz shifted there in 1994.

NAB Prosecutor said that Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was the actual owner of Gulf Steel Mills.

Earlier today  defense counsel Zafar Khan filed an a one-day exemption plea for Maryam and Captain (r) Safdar. Khan informed the court that Captain (r) Safdar was away and could not appear as he was in Mansehra to obtain nomination papers for the upcoming elections.

Judge Mohammad Bashir approved defense counsel’s request, granting one-day exemption from court appearance.

However, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi presented final arguments claiming that the defense had failed to prove its sources of income.

Prosecutor Abbasi during the hearing accused that Maryam Nawaz was concealing the truth by hiding facts. He added that the accused had tried to mislead the bureau.

Nawaz Sharif also appeared before the court to mark his attendance and left later on.

Earlier on accountability court had dismissed Nawaz Sharif’s petition to hear the final arguments of all three references together as the facts and witnesses are the same.

However, Judge Muhammad Bashir had dismissed the petition stating that the defense was free to challenge the verdict in high court.

Sharif’s second counsel had maintained the view in the petition that National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) claims that the facts in all three reference case are incorrect, whereas as Gulf Steel Mills, Qatari letter was presented in all three references.

Saad Hashmi added that the base of all three references was Panama Papers joint investigation team’s (JIT) report thus the final arguments should be heard altogether.

The anti-corruption watchdog had filed three corruption cases against the Sharif family in the light of the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Panama Papers case.

The trial against the Sharif family had commenced on September 14, 2017.

The corruption references, filed against the Sharifs, pertain to the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment, offshore companies including Flagship Investment Ltd, and Avenfield properties of London.

Nawaz and sons Hussain and Hasan are accused in all three references whereas his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Safdar are accused in the Avenfield reference only.