Sharif references: Court set to write for third extension

It has yet to record statements of Wajid Zia and investigation officers

ISLAMABAD: With the deadline set to expire on June 9, the accountability court Judge Muhammad Bashir on Monday decided to seek another extension from the Supreme Court. During the hearing of Al-Azizia & Hill Metal Establishment reference, the judge remarked that he would write a letter to SC for another extension.

Earlier in March, the SC had granted a two-month extension to the accountability court to wrap up the proceedings. When the references could not be completed in the stipulated time, the SC had granted one-more month to decide the references but it could not happen despite day-to-day marathon hearings.



As the one-month deadline expires, the court has yet to record statements of key NAB witness Wajid Zia in one reference (flagship reference) and two investigation officers in Al-Azizia & Hill Metal Establishment and Flagship references, respectively, in two references.

Once the statements are recorded, the defence counsel Khawaja Haris would cross examine the witnesses. Subsequently, the accused standing trial would record statement in the references and produce witness in defence, if needed, and after that the NAB and defence counsel would present arguments in the cases.

Following the arguments, both the parties would give rebuttal and then the court is expected to reserve verdict and go for pronouncement of judgment.

Interestingly, the court has adjourned the hearing of Al-Azizia reference wherein Zia is being cross examined till June 11 and directed the defence counsel Haris and Amjad Pervaiz to present arguments in the Avenfield Apartments’ reference as all the witness and accused have already recorded their statements.

The defence has been arguing that all three references are overlapping and court should hear arguments only after all the witnesses and accused conclude their statements but the court has once again directed defence counsel to present arguments in the Avenfield reference.

Haris argued that defence would be disclosed in all three references by presenting arguments in one reference and if the court decides to give judgment in the Avenfield reference before the two other references then the court would be disclosing its mind as well.

Obviously, he said, the cases are connected to each other and whatever decision the court would give in one case, it will affect the other references. He suggested that the court should transfer the two other cases to some other court if it wishes to conclude Avenfield reference first.

Haris also referred to a previous decision of the court where it clearly said that it would decide all three corruption references simultaneously to avoid conflicting judgments.

The court, however, turned down Haris’s request and has decided to hear final arguments in Avenfield Apartments reference on June 5 (Tuesday). Haris said that he would file an application for joint hearing of the defense version.

NAB’s Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi, however, argued that he has to present arguments in all the three corruption references differently as the three references are different from each other.

Meanwhile, Haris continued cross examination of Zia in Al-Azizia & Hill Metal reference.

Since, the references are overlapping, questions and answers pertaining to Gulf Steel Mill, Ahli Steel Mill, agreements of 1978 and 1980, setting up and running of Al-Aziza & Hill Metal, Mutual Legal Assistance requests to Dubai authorities, statements of witnesses who appeared before JIT in this regard, apparent gaps and volunteer explanations by Zia were almost the same as they were in the Avenfield reference.



In its July 28, 2017 judgment, the apex court had directed the top graft buster to file three references against Sharif, his sons, daughter, son in-law within six weeks and further directed the accountability court to decide the references within six months, which could not happen.

Nawaz Sharif’s talk

Meanwhile, the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif on Monday said PML-N-led government finished its tenure and left the country in better state but “it is again being plunged into darkness”.

Speaking to reporters outside the accountability court, Sharif said PML-N carried out multiple development projects in the country.

“Everything was normal when my party was running the government,” said the ousted premier.

“Shehbaz Sharif and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi inaugurated numerous projects during the last few days,” he said. “It was our wish to have the Lahore, Multan and Sukkur motorway inaugurated by the prime minister but the construction took longer than expected.”

Sharif said that no other government can take credit for building motorways in the country. “We started 39 mega projects in Punjab. Made the Gwadar and Quetta motorway apart from completing the Neelum-Jhelum and Tarbela projects,” he added.

He added that the Lowari tunnel was inaugurated after decades of delay by his government.