ISLAMABAD: A day after his legal counsel recused himself from all three accountability references against the Sharif family, former premier Nawaz Sharif was asked by the accountability court on Tuesday to hire a new lawyer by June 19. Advocate Khwaja Haris had recused himself in protest against what he said was the Supreme Court’s pressure on the accountability court to conclude the trial in a month. As the hearing of the Avenfield reference resumed on Tuesday, Nawaz appeared before the court without his lawyer. Judge Muhammad Bashir asked him if he wanted to hire another legal counsel or continue with Haris, saying that the latter’s recusal request had yet to be accepted. Nawaz held that it was not an easy decision, adding, “A lawyer worked hard on this case for nine months. Nearly hundred attendances have been marked in the case. “Is this case going to be heard 24 hours a day and seven days a week? Is there any similar example?” Nawaz asked. The court then adjourned the hearing of Avenfield reference till June 14 (Thursday) and exempted the former premier and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, from appearing for the hearing. The hearing of Al-Azizia reference was later adjourned till June 19. On Sunday, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar had directed the accountability court to announce its verdict on all three corruption references within a month. During the hearing, the chief justice rejected Nawaz’s former counsel Haris’ petition for completing the trial in six weeks, observing that final verdict against the former premier, his sons, daughter, and son-in-law should be announced within a month. Announcing his decision to withdraw his legal services to Nawaz during the hearing of Al-Azizia reference, Haris said the Supreme Court was ‘dictating’ the trial court to complete the trial within a month. The lawyer, in his letter, expressed inability to work on Saturdays and Sundays. Haris said he was ‘dictated’ to work beyond court hours. Nawaz’s former legal counsel remarked that he could not continue to work in the present conditions. Published in Daily Times, June 13th 2018.