Prosecution witness: Wajid Zia starts deposing in Flagship reference
Former PM Nawaz Sharif appears before court with attorneys
PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
An accountability court started hearing on Monday the Flagship reference against Nawaz Sharif with a key prosecution witness, former head of the JIT Wajid Zia, recording his statement here just after the reference in connection with Al Azizia steel mill was taken up.
Nawaz Sharif, who arrived in Islamabad from Lahore on Sunday, appeared before the court along with his attorneys.
Deposing in the case, Wajid Zia pointed out that the Supreme Court had ordered formation of a JIT in its April 20 judgment.
FIA, he said, had been tasked to nominate someone working on additional director level. Other members were selected from SECP, NAB, SBP, MI and ISI.
“My name was included … by FIA. SC announced names of JIT members on May 5, 2017. SC then asked JIT to find answers of some questions. The questions were: How was the Gulf Steel mill established? How it was sold? What happened to its dues? Were letters sent by a Qatari royal figure fictitious or authentic?
The apex court also tasked the JIT to find in-depth information on Avenfield apartments. The Hill Metal company, founded by Hussain Nawaz, was also to be investigated. SC had also asked the JIT to probe investment in the Flagship company. The JIT was also tasked to find the source of funds for (setting up) Flagship investment and other companies.
It was also to determine the real owner of these companies, besides finding out if Hasan and Hussain Nawaz were acting on behalf of their father as benami owner. JIT then asked the SC to empower it to write letters of mutual legal assistance. The ministry of law and justice had given JIT authority under Section 21 of the NAB Ordinance. JIT had sent letters of mutual legal assistance on Flagship reference to the UAE and UK. JIT received a reply in response to its request for assistance from the UAE.
Al-Azizia, Flagship references: Sharif to be produced in court on Aug 13
The reference had been filed to try to determine the source of money for the Flagship investment. It was also to be determined if Nawaz Sharif owned assets beyond his income. The JIT was given a limited timeframe to complete its work.”
Wajid Zia also told the court that a letter had been sent to the Qatari prince through Pakistan’s embassy in Doha. Pakistan’s ambassador in Doha Shahzad Ahmed sent a delivery report to the Foreign Office. An officer of the Foreign Office, Afaq Ahmed, had conveyed the delivery report to the JIT.
Wajid Zia also provided record of correspondence with Afaq Ahmed.
Subsequently, judge of the accountability court, Arshad Malik, asked the head of the JIT about actual documents in the reference.
The judge said if a witness kept actual documents until the case ended, they were useless.
Wajid Zia said that in earlier two cases, the courts concerned had returned these documents after examining them.
Haris raises 10 objections to trial court’s move
Judge Arshad Malik said that he knew that these documents were to be submitted with the SC, but there was a procedure to be followed.
Subsequently, Justice Arshad Malik attested the reply from the UAE, saying that after the court’s stamp, the document’s authenticity increased.
The hearing was later adjourned till Tuesday (today).
Wajid Zia will continue to record his statement.
An accountability court started hearing on Monday the Flagship reference against Nawaz Sharif with a key prosecution witness, former head of the JIT Wajid Zia, recording his statement here just after the reference in connection with Al Azizia steel mill was taken up.
Nawaz Sharif, who arrived in Islamabad from Lahore on Sunday, appeared before the court along with his attorneys.
Deposing in the case, Wajid Zia pointed out that the Supreme Court had ordered formation of a JIT in its April 20 judgment.
FIA, he said, had been tasked to nominate someone working on additional director level. Other members were selected from SECP, NAB, SBP, MI and ISI.
“My name was included … by FIA. SC announced names of JIT members on May 5, 2017. SC then asked JIT to find answers of some questions. The questions were: How was the Gulf Steel mill established? How it was sold? What happened to its dues? Were letters sent by a Qatari royal figure fictitious or authentic?
The apex court also tasked the JIT to find in-depth information on Avenfield apartments. The Hill Metal company, founded by Hussain Nawaz, was also to be investigated. SC had also asked the JIT to probe investment in the Flagship company. The JIT was also tasked to find the source of funds for (setting up) Flagship investment and other companies.
It was also to determine the real owner of these companies, besides finding out if Hasan and Hussain Nawaz were acting on behalf of their father as benami owner. JIT then asked the SC to empower it to write letters of mutual legal assistance. The ministry of law and justice had given JIT authority under Section 21 of the NAB Ordinance. JIT had sent letters of mutual legal assistance on Flagship reference to the UAE and UK. JIT received a reply in response to its request for assistance from the UAE.
Al-Azizia, Flagship references: Sharif to be produced in court on Aug 13
The reference had been filed to try to determine the source of money for the Flagship investment. It was also to be determined if Nawaz Sharif owned assets beyond his income. The JIT was given a limited timeframe to complete its work.”
Wajid Zia also told the court that a letter had been sent to the Qatari prince through Pakistan’s embassy in Doha. Pakistan’s ambassador in Doha Shahzad Ahmed sent a delivery report to the Foreign Office. An officer of the Foreign Office, Afaq Ahmed, had conveyed the delivery report to the JIT.
Wajid Zia also provided record of correspondence with Afaq Ahmed.
Subsequently, judge of the accountability court, Arshad Malik, asked the head of the JIT about actual documents in the reference.
The judge said if a witness kept actual documents until the case ended, they were useless.
Wajid Zia said that in earlier two cases, the courts concerned had returned these documents after examining them.
Haris raises 10 objections to trial court’s move
Judge Arshad Malik said that he knew that these documents were to be submitted with the SC, but there was a procedure to be followed.
Subsequently, Justice Arshad Malik attested the reply from the UAE, saying that after the court’s stamp, the document’s authenticity increased.
The hearing was later adjourned till Tuesday (today).
Wajid Zia will continue to record his statement.