NAB references: Safdar also seeks court exemption

Nawaz, Maryam leave for London from Lahore's Allama Iqbal Airport

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law Capt (retd) Mohammed Safdar has also sought exemption from court attendance in person, following the relief granted to the PML-N chief and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.

Safdar has sought a 15-day exemption from appearing before the Islamabad Accountability Court that is hearing corruption references against the Sharif family.

The court on Tuesday continued recording statements of witnesses in the three references filed by the National Accountability Bureau. It granted exemption to Sharif on Monday from attendance until December 11, while Maryam is exempted until December 15.



Malik Tayyab, a prosecution witness, began recording his statement in the Azizia Steel Mills reference. He was summoned again on Wednesday to complete his statement. The witness provided to the court details of cheque transactions of the former premier.

Mukhtar Ahmed, another prosecution witness, recorded his statement in the Avenfield properties reference. He told the court that he had delivered the summons for Sharif, Maryam and Safdar at their Jati Umra residence. The court summoned another witness in the same reference, Adeel Akhtar, on December 11.

Another prosecution witness, Umar Daraz, recorded his statement in the Flagship Investments case against the former prime minister. The court will take up the Azizia case on Wednesday, while hearing of the Avenfield and Flagship references was adjourned till December 11.



Nawaz, Maryam leave for London

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar Awan departed for London from Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport early Tuesday morning. The court, during yesterday's hearing granted one week exemption to Nawaz from appearing before court.

During the hearing today, Captain (retd) Safdar also requested for a 15-day exemption from appearance before the court. Maryam was earlier granted an month-long exemption.

The father-daughter duo will be represented in the court by their pleaders, Zaafir Khan and Barrister Jahangir Jadoon while MNA Safdar requested to be represented by Advocate Faisal Irfan.

According to bank statements and cheque receipts presented before the court by Zaafir, Nawaz made three transactions of 12M, 28.8M and 19.5 to Maryam’s account on June 13, 2015, November 15, 2015 and August 14, 2016 respectively.