Daily Times

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Thursday instructed the respondents to give arguments on next hearing after preparation in appeals of PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz and her husband Muhammad Safdar in the Avenfield Property reference.

Maryam appeared before the court along with her legal team. Special Prosecutor NAB Imtiaz Siddiqui excused to appear in the court while the other Special Prosecutor Azhar Siddiq could not appear due to engagements in the Lahore High Court. At the outset of hearing, defence lawyer Irfan Qadir pleaded that this bench had raised some questions before the bureau which could not be answered so far. “The two new prosecutors were given time for preparation but today both could not attend the proceeding,” he said. He said the arguments almost had been completed and prayed the court not to further delay the case. Justice Aamer Farooq asked why the defence lawyer Amjad Perviaz did not raise same objections during the trial to this the lawyer said he had pointed it out. Irfan Qadir argued that their case was that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had prepared a false case and there were no solid proofs against his clients. Justice Farooq remarked that the court would view the matter despite if there were lack of proofs. The court said it had asked the bureau to present the case record. Irfan Qadir said the case had same grounds from Maryam Nawaz and former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. He said former prime minister should be given comfort so that he would be able to return and appear. The NAB prosecutor objected and said this matter was not currently before this court. Amjad Pervaiz said that the NAB was only using delaying tactics.