Azizia mills reference
Court turns down Nawaz lawyer’s objections, includes bank documents in case record
PHOTO: REUTERS
An accountability court, hearing the Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Nawaz Sharif, on Thursday dismissed the objections raised by the counsel for ousted prime minister against a prosecution representative.
On Wednesday, the court heard NAB’s plea to include documents provided by Noreen Shahzad — who replaced prosecution witness Malik Tayyab as branch manager of a private bank — in the case record.
Ayesha Hamid, who was assisting defence counsel Khawaja Harris, had objected to the request, saying that since Shahzad’s name was not on the witness list, documents provided by her could not be counted as evidence.
“In what capacity has Noreen Shahzad submitted documents to the court?” Hamid had asked, adding that Shahzad was not able to present an authority letter from her employer. She had also said that the defence team was not informed of Shahzad’s involvement in the case.
Judge Mohammad Bashir, after hearing arguments from both sides on Thursday, rejected the objections raised by Hamid against Shahzad’s status. The judge ordered that documents presented by Shahzad be made a part of the case record.
The NAB prosecutor had argued that Shahzad was now the manager of the bank where Tayyab was earlier employed. He said that Shahzad too had presented documents concerning Nawaz Sharif’s bank accounts.
After dismissing the lawyer’s plea, the court resumed recording the statement of Tayyab. The defence lawyer will argue on his testimony at the next hearing.
On Wednesday, the court heard NAB’s plea to include documents provided by Noreen Shahzad — who replaced prosecution witness Malik Tayyab as branch manager of a private bank — in the case record.
Ayesha Hamid, who was assisting defence counsel Khawaja Harris, had objected to the request, saying that since Shahzad’s name was not on the witness list, documents provided by her could not be counted as evidence.
“In what capacity has Noreen Shahzad submitted documents to the court?” Hamid had asked, adding that Shahzad was not able to present an authority letter from her employer. She had also said that the defence team was not informed of Shahzad’s involvement in the case.
Judge Mohammad Bashir, after hearing arguments from both sides on Thursday, rejected the objections raised by Hamid against Shahzad’s status. The judge ordered that documents presented by Shahzad be made a part of the case record.
The NAB prosecutor had argued that Shahzad was now the manager of the bank where Tayyab was earlier employed. He said that Shahzad too had presented documents concerning Nawaz Sharif’s bank accounts.
After dismissing the lawyer’s plea, the court resumed recording the statement of Tayyab. The defence lawyer will argue on his testimony at the next hearing.