Avenfield, Flagship references: NAB to produce fresh evidence in Sharif trial

Judge allows Nawaz, Maryam exemption for Friday, dismisses plea for one-week exception

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Friday accepted the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)’s application seeking the court’s permission to produce additional documents as evidence against the Sharif family in the Avenfield and the Flagship references.

Meanwhile, accountability court judge Muhammad Bashir accepted an exemption request of the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz for one day (Friday) but dismissed their application seeking exemption from personal appearance for one week.

The court, however, remarked that the suspects can file a fresh exemption plea on the next hearing if need be.

In previous hearings, NAB prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi had filed an application requesting the court to allow the accountability bureau to file some additional documents related to Avenfield Apartments and Flagship references. Subsequently, the court had fixed the application for hearing on Friday with directions to prosecution and defence counsel Amjad Pervaiz to present argument on it.

Muzaffar said that NAB wishes to produce fresh proof in the case that pertains to the ownership of the London properties and offshore companies. He revealed that the evidence has come in response to a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) earlier sent by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to the British authorities.



Defence counsel for Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar, Amjad Pervaiz, argued that the mala fide is evident as the interim references were filed in September 2017, supplementary references were filed on January 18 and NAB has brought new evidence when all the witnesses had already recorded their statements and the defence had also completed their cross examinations.

“It is NAB that is delaying the references not the defence”, said Defence counsel Pervaiz over allegations that his side is prolonging the case.

He further said that previously NAB filed supplementary references when new evidence was obtained but this time around, the application seeking permission to produce new evidence has been moved through an investigation officer instead of the chairman NAB.

“Presenting additional evidence at this stage is a mockery of justice”, said Pervaiz adding that NAB had not fulfilled any legal requirements as the documents only comprised photocopies and were also not certified.  Additionally, he informed that copies of land registry had already been exhibited and witnesses have also been questioned in this regard.

Following the arguments, the court reserved verdict for a few hours and later announced that NAB can produce additional evidence and witnesses against the Sharif family. Also, the court allowed Friday’s exemption while dismissing pleas of an extended one-week exemption.

Moreover, Judge Bashir directed NAB to produce the witness on April 23 (Monday). Separately, the court has already summoned JIT head Wajid Zia on the same day for recording his statement in the Al-Azizia & Hill Metal Establishment references.