Al-Azizia reference: Zia tells same story told in Avenfield reference
Sharif’s counsel raises objections to the JIT report, says it can’t be exhibited as evidence
JIT Head Wajid Zia. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Wajid Zia – the National Accountability Bureau’s star prosecution witness in Al-Azizia and Hill Metal Establishment reference – narrated on Monday almost the same facts what he has already stated in the Avenfield reference with regard to money trail of Sharif family.
Zia, who headed the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that probed into Sharif’s offshore properties in line with the apex court’s order, informed the court that Sharif family sold 75 per cent shares of Gulf Steel Mills (GSM) and it was renamed as Ahli Steel Mills (AMS) in 1978.
He said the remaining 25 per cent shares were also sold but contrary to the claim of Sharif family that the money was handed over to Qatari Royals for investment purpose, this amount of AED12 million was used for clearing the liabilities of GSM.
To support this notion, Zia said Tariq Shafi, cousin of Sharif, obtained loans from Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) for GSM and the amount remained outstanding till 1986 when Shafi opened another account in the BCCI.
Accountability court: JIT chief's deposition starts
Zia was of the view that since the bank in general not allows opening of account till the clearance of outstanding amount, JIT assumed that Shafi had cleared the BCCI loans from the AED12 million. The witness testified that the JIT concluded that the letters of Qatari Royals were not real but myth.
Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif's counsel Khawaja Haris said the testimony of witness is the same as he recorded in the Avenfield properties reference. Haris raised objections to the JIT report and requested the court not to exhibit it as it is inadmissible evidence.
Haris said an investigation report could not be treated as admissible evidence; secondly it is inadmissible in the light of the apex court judgment of July 28 as it was prepared to respond the question top court formulated in its order of April 20, 2017.
He said the apex court had directed NAB to prepare and file references and court never ordered to treat the entire JIT report as evidence. Also, the JIT report comprises inferences drawn by the investigation team and in the light of various judgments of the superior judiciary, inferences could not be accepted as evidence.
Since the same evidence has already been read in the Avenfield reference, therefore, he said, it cannot be used in the Al-Azizia reference. Zia would continue his statement on Tuesday [today].
Sharif asks why he is called a traitor
Speaking to media at the accountability court, Nawaz Sharif expressed disappointment over being labelled as a ‘traitor’ for asking a question which, he claimed, has already been posed by a number of people including the country’s former president, interior minister and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief.
“[Former president Pervez] Musharraf, [former interior minister] Rehman Malik, [ISI chief] Ahmed Shuja Pasha and Lt Gen (retd) Mehmood Durrani have made similar statements earlier on but their words did not whip up a storm,” Sharif said in a reference to his May 9 statement about Mumbai attacks.
He was while talking to journalists inside the accountability court hearing Al-Azizia and Hill Metal Establishment reference against the members of his family, the PML-N leader said
Sharif said he will continue to speak the truth as he considers it as his national, religious and moral duty. Not many politicians speak the truth but he will speak the truth irrespective of what he has to bear, Sharif added.
Al-Azizia reference: Wajid Zia produces Qatari prince's letter in court
“Are those patriots who broke Pakistan in 1971? Are those patriots who fan the internal strife? Are the violators of the Constitution patriotic? Are those who expelled the judges from their offices patriotic or those who supported the bloodshed of May 12?” Sharif questioned.
To a question, Sharif said he only questioned why the Mumbai attack trial could not be completed. To a subsequent question asking about his stance on India spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, Sharif said he has called Jadhav an Indian spy, who was spying in Pakistan and there is no second opinion about it.
Wajid Zia – the National Accountability Bureau’s star prosecution witness in Al-Azizia and Hill Metal Establishment reference – narrated on Monday almost the same facts what he has already stated in the Avenfield reference with regard to money trail of Sharif family.
Zia, who headed the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that probed into Sharif’s offshore properties in line with the apex court’s order, informed the court that Sharif family sold 75 per cent shares of Gulf Steel Mills (GSM) and it was renamed as Ahli Steel Mills (AMS) in 1978.
He said the remaining 25 per cent shares were also sold but contrary to the claim of Sharif family that the money was handed over to Qatari Royals for investment purpose, this amount of AED12 million was used for clearing the liabilities of GSM.
To support this notion, Zia said Tariq Shafi, cousin of Sharif, obtained loans from Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) for GSM and the amount remained outstanding till 1986 when Shafi opened another account in the BCCI.
Accountability court: JIT chief's deposition starts
Zia was of the view that since the bank in general not allows opening of account till the clearance of outstanding amount, JIT assumed that Shafi had cleared the BCCI loans from the AED12 million. The witness testified that the JIT concluded that the letters of Qatari Royals were not real but myth.
Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif's counsel Khawaja Haris said the testimony of witness is the same as he recorded in the Avenfield properties reference. Haris raised objections to the JIT report and requested the court not to exhibit it as it is inadmissible evidence.
Haris said an investigation report could not be treated as admissible evidence; secondly it is inadmissible in the light of the apex court judgment of July 28 as it was prepared to respond the question top court formulated in its order of April 20, 2017.
He said the apex court had directed NAB to prepare and file references and court never ordered to treat the entire JIT report as evidence. Also, the JIT report comprises inferences drawn by the investigation team and in the light of various judgments of the superior judiciary, inferences could not be accepted as evidence.
Since the same evidence has already been read in the Avenfield reference, therefore, he said, it cannot be used in the Al-Azizia reference. Zia would continue his statement on Tuesday [today].
Sharif asks why he is called a traitor
Speaking to media at the accountability court, Nawaz Sharif expressed disappointment over being labelled as a ‘traitor’ for asking a question which, he claimed, has already been posed by a number of people including the country’s former president, interior minister and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief.
“[Former president Pervez] Musharraf, [former interior minister] Rehman Malik, [ISI chief] Ahmed Shuja Pasha and Lt Gen (retd) Mehmood Durrani have made similar statements earlier on but their words did not whip up a storm,” Sharif said in a reference to his May 9 statement about Mumbai attacks.
He was while talking to journalists inside the accountability court hearing Al-Azizia and Hill Metal Establishment reference against the members of his family, the PML-N leader said
Sharif said he will continue to speak the truth as he considers it as his national, religious and moral duty. Not many politicians speak the truth but he will speak the truth irrespective of what he has to bear, Sharif added.
Al-Azizia reference: Wajid Zia produces Qatari prince's letter in court
“Are those patriots who broke Pakistan in 1971? Are those patriots who fan the internal strife? Are the violators of the Constitution patriotic? Are those who expelled the judges from their offices patriotic or those who supported the bloodshed of May 12?” Sharif questioned.
To a question, Sharif said he only questioned why the Mumbai attack trial could not be completed. To a subsequent question asking about his stance on India spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, Sharif said he has called Jadhav an Indian spy, who was spying in Pakistan and there is no second opinion about it.