ISLAMABAD: The accountability court on Thursday said the Supreme Court has declared that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is not honest and trustworthy (Sadiq and Ameen) and after the verdict, his counsel should satisfy the court regarding it, a private TV channel reported. During the hearing of Al-Azizia reference, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Deputy Prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi argued that there is a disparity between the statements of Nawaz Sharif and final arguments of his lawyer. He said Nawaz accepted the documents presented by his sons Hasan and Hussain as well as the assets, adding that the possession has also been proved. He said there is no proof that Tariq Shafi was Mian Sharif’s ‘benamidar’ and it seems from the stance of the suspects that they had ‘benamidar persons’ in the 1970s as well. The NAB deputy prosecutor said after the Supreme court’s orders, the NAB separately inquired the case. He said Wajid Zia wasn’t the NAB’s officer and didn’t have the right to inquiry, adding that he was the ‘star witness’. He said the speeches of Nawaz Sharif were on record and will be presented on the relevant forum. He said it seems from the speeches that the former prime minister knew all about his matters. “For proving our case, the suspects have completed all the elements… the NAB has fulfilled its responsibility and now the bar is on the suspects to prove otherwise,” he added. The NAB deputy prosecutor said the case is of ‘benami property’ and there are no direct evidences in it, adding that as per record, Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were deriving benefit from the Al-Azizia/Hill Metals Establishment. Judge Arshad Malik said Nawaz’s speech in assembly should not be considered political, to which the NAB prosecutor responded that the apex court also didn’t consider it political. “Record of Dubai and Jeddah factories is available but Nawaz didn’t say in the speech that he has no link with the properties,” the judge said. Published in Daily Times, December 14th 2018.