Merger plea rejected: Sharifs shall stand three separate trials

Accountability court formally indicts ex-PM and family in all three references

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Wednesday rejected an application filed by ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif to have three references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against him and his family merged into one.

This means the Sharif family will stand three separate trials. The court had on Tuesday reserved its ruling after hearing arguments from both the defence counsel and the NAB prosecution.

Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (retd) Mohammad Safdar appeared before the court as the hearing of the references resumed.

After the announcement of the judgment, Sharif was called to the rostrum and Judge Muhammad Bashir read out the charges against the ousted premier, formally indicted him. The former prime minister was indicted separately in each of the three references. He pleaded ‘not guilty’ to all the charges.

Sharif was quite relaxed but in a serious mood as he was called to the rostrum. At times, there appeared to be no trace of emotions on his face as he stayed in court for about two hours.



During his more than 10-minute stay at the rostrum, Sharif read his response attached with the charge-sheet several times and asked for several amendments while consulting his counsel, Khawaja Haris.

“[The] charge is groundless. Investigation is mala fide and politically motivated. I am being denied right to a fair trial guaranteed under Article 10-A of the Constitution,” Sharif amended his previous statement while asking for removal of a portion related to his pleader from the charge-sheet.

Here, Sharif, while addressing the judge, said the court had to decide four references in six months; and if divided, one reference would only get one and a half month. To this, the judge replied that three references had been separated, and they would be heard together and could be decided within the stipulated time.

At one point, the honourable judge said that the law also says that the references should expeditiously be decided, further inquiring, “Shall we reduce the time period?”

Haris replied: “Four references have never been decided in six months before,” adding, “Things would get really difficult once the court simultaneously starts recording evidence in three references.”
Previously, Sharif was indicted through his pleader, Zaafir Khan, in his absence. Both the times, he pleaded not guilty.

“Don’t worry, this too shall pass Mian Sahab,” Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz consoled her father following their formal indictment in the Avenfield Apartment reference.

Sharif and his two sons Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz have also been named in the Flagship Investment and Al-Azizia & Hill Metals Establishment corruption references.

At 8:53am, Sharif along with Maryam and Safdar entered the courtroom and sat on the front seats. Soon, Safdar moved back to the last row in the courtroom and observed the rest of the proceedings from there.

The Sharifs were accompanied by several loyalists, including Pervaiz Rashid, Tariq Fatemi, Asif Kirmani, Maryam Aurangzeb, Danial Aziz, Talal Chaudhry, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Mian Javed Latif and Aqeel Anjam.

Nawaz was provided a copy each of an English and Urdu newspaper    that he was occasionally seen leafing through. On the other hand, Maryam continued to count her prayers on a digital rosary encrusted with gems.

The lighter side

During the otherwise serious court proceedings, there were some moments of laughter that provided respite from the usual tedious legal discussions. During a short break, the judge asked NAB prosecutors how many of them “usually appear before the court”.

“Seven,” replied a prosecutor Afzal Qureshi, adding keeping in view Haris’ experience, even 14 would appear to be less. “We are learning every day. Trials are a routine thing,” he said.

“Files must have made him old,” the judge quipped while referring to Haris’ age and experience. “Still young at heart,” Haris replied, adding during his initial days in the field he wished to have white hair so that the clients would take him seriously.



Another defence counsel, Amjad Pervez, said that Haris was very hard working and usually kept the defence team awake till 3am. “He has disclosed our whole defence,” Haris quipped.

Lastly, NAB prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi chipped in to crack a joke.

Once, he said, a judge asked a man to bring sweets right after dismissing his petition. Surprised and wondering what led the judge to say so, the man asked what for. “Congratulations, you have just got the right to appeal,” he laughingly said.