SC grants six-week extension to conclude references against Sharif family members

Wajid Zia and other investigative officers yet to record statement, says NAB prosecutor

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday extended the accountability trial against members of the Sharif family for the fifth time and gave the court six more weeks to decide the Al Azizia and Flagship corruption references.

The prosecutor of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) said statements of Wajid Zia and other investigative officers are yet to be recorded while elaborating on the status of the case.

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan composed the three-member bench hearing the appeal to extend the hearing of the corruption reference cases.



The Supreme Court also directed the accountability court’s judge to submit weekly progress reports.

Deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif counsel, Khawaja Harris, said that if the Islamabad High Court (IHC) began hearing his appeal in the Avenfield flats case, it would be difficult for him to appear before in both the courts, to which the chief justice retorted that the counsel should also work Saturdays.

Nawaz has been sentenced in Avenfield case while proceedings in the Al-Azizia and Flagship references against him are underway.

President Mamnoon Hussain earlier today said he stands by Nawaz while visiting Kulsoom Nawaz in London and added she was in good health now.



An accountability court on July 6 found former premier Nawaz Sharif and two of his family members guilty in one of the four corruption references filed against them in line with the apex court’s July 28, 2017 order and awarded them ‘rigorous imprisonment’ and heavy financial penalties.

In the verdict on Avenfield Apartments reference announced by Judge Muhammad Bashir, the court sentenced Sharif to 10 years rigorous imprisonment, his daughter Maryam to 7 years rigorous imprisonment and son-in-law, Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar, to one-year rigorous imprisonment.

The accused were also disqualified to contest election or to hold public office for a period of 10 years to be reckoned from the date they are released after serving the sentence and they shall not be allowed to apply for or to be granted or allowed any financial facilities in the form of a loan for a period of 10 years from the date of their conviction within the meaning of section 15 of NAO 1999.