Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif while recording his statements in the Flagship reference case at an accountability court said that he was wrongfully named the owner of assets belonging to Hassan Nawaz by the joint investigation team (JIT).

Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Arshad Malik conducted the hearing on Wednesday during which former Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) president appeared before the court and recorded his statements.

The former premier has recorded his response to 136 questions, while he would most likely record the answers to the remaining four questions today (Thursday).

Nawaz stated that charges against him were politically motivated. “No charges have been proved, however, I still will submit the documents to the court,” he said, adding that on the basis of ‘JIT’s one-sided report’, references were drawn up against him.

“Hasan Nawaz made the assets, and the JIT wrongly named me the owner of the assets,” the former premier claimed.

“Apart from Wajid Zia and investigation officer Kamran, no witnesses recorded statements against me. Both of them tried to frame me, both also stated that no such document was found which showed that my children were under my care.”

On being questioned about the Flagship reference by the court, Nawaz replied that his children used to buy flats and later sold them after decor. “They would also sell a company under the flat name.”

The judge remarked that “through Hussain Nawaz the money went to Hassan Nawaz, if Hussain had appeared, the matter would have been resolved. Even if the Qataris had appeared before the court matter could have been resolved.”

As many as three references have been filed against the former premier in line with the directives of the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case verdict – a decision that ousted Nawaz Sharif from the PM House in July last year.

Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir had sentenced the elder Sharif to ten years in the Avenfield reference. However, the conviction was suspended by a two-member bench of the Islamabad High Court.

The NAB had moved the Supreme Court against the decision of the Islamabad High Court, which would hear the case on December 12.

Besides Sharif, Maryam Nawaz was sentenced to 7 years and Captain Safdar was sentenced to one year in prison in the Avenfield reference which pertains to the pricey flats of the former ruling family.

Published in Daily Times, December 6^th 2018.