Sharif family. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar appeared before the court on Tuesday as Judge Muhammad Bashir resumed hearing of the Avenfield reference against the Sharifs.
During proceedings, Zia submitted three letters earlier disallowed to be exhibited by the accountability court as they were presented following submission of the final JIT report before the top court. He then requested the court to admit them.
Sharifs’ trial: JIT report may be treated as evidence, says accountability court
The first letter dated June 19, 2017 was an authorisation letter from the attorney general for Pakistan (AGP) to Zia. The letter asked Zia to request attorney general’s chamber of Virgin Islands for the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA).
The second, dated July 4, 2017, was from the attorney general’s chamber of Virgin Islands addressed to Zia in connection with the MLA request.
The final letter, dated July 17, 2017, was a reply by Qatari Prince Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani to the JIT head in connection with the Panama Papers proceedings. The letter was directly received by the top court.
In his arguments, Amjad Pervaiz, the counsel for Maryam and Safdar, said the witness had got late in submitting the documents before the court. “These documents are dated,” he said. “Why were they not presented before?”
When Judge Bashir asked why the June 19 letter was not submitted earlier, Zia said it was issued after the top court allowed the JIT to contact British Virgin Islands (BVI) authorities. Later, the court allowed the letters to be admitted.
On Avenfield flats, Zia said Sharif’s sons – Hassan and Hussain – and daughter Maryam had submitted replies in different applications before the top court.
“The apartments were purchased by Qatari royals through BVI companies and were transferred as settlement of share-bearing companies to the representatives of Hussain,” he said.
Zia said the response comprised two trust deeds – one for the two BVI companies, i.e. Neilson and Nescol and the other for Coomber. He said the documents were signed by Maryam as trustee, Hussain as beneficiary and Safdar as witness.
References against Sharifs: Plea for simultaneous recording of Zia’s statement dismissed
Pervaiz objected, saying the prosecution was relying on non-admissible content taken from applications filed by the Sharif family before the SC.
According to Zia, the year 2006 was a pivotal year due to change in the BVI Companies Act, 2004 where the bearer share had to be deposited to a custodian by the year 2006. “It was no longer possible for the share-holder to remain anonymous,” he said.
In his statement, Zia said the Sharifs had furnished documents to mislead the top court. Objecting to the allegation, Pervaiz said Zia was presenting an opinion as he was not witness to the documents.
With this, Zia completed his testimony in the Avenfield reference in a total of six hearings.
The JIT head will now be cross-examined today [Wednesday].
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