Sharif testifies in Flagship reference

Defence counsel continues to cross-examine NAB’s IO

ISLAMABAD: The accountability court has summoned former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to record his statement in the Flagship corruption reference today (Wednesday).

During the hearing of Al-Azizia and Flagship references on Tuesday, Judge Arshad Malik remarked that Sharif should record his statement under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Defence Counsel Khawaja Haris appealed to the court that the statement should be recorded from Wednesday onwards. He said the nature of the questions was ‘complex’ and more time was needed for preparation. But he added that the defence had no ‘reservations’ on it.

Haris said that the defence counsel had to see the entire record for answering the court’s questions and needed time till Wednesday.

The court accepted the defence counsel’s appeal in this regard.

Judge Arshad Malik remarked that the court had to write a letter to the Supreme Court regarding an extension in the deadline of the trial. He said the court had to send Sharif’s statement along with the letter to inform the top court about the progress of the trial.

Meanwhile, the defence counsel continued its cross-examination of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Investigation Officer (IO), Muhammad Kamran.

The IO informed the court that NAB had not served call-up notices on accused Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, the sons of the former premier. He said that Hassan had been living in Britain since 1994, adding that he was a student till 1999 and obtained British nationality in 2007.

About Hussain, the IO told the court that he had not been in Pakistan since 2000.



He said the call-up notice had the addresses of Jati Umra and Model Town residences. He said he came to know through the report of the Joint Investigation team (JIT) that Hassan and Hussain were non-resident Pakistanis.

The IO claimed that he had found record of more properties owned by the accused after filing a reference against them.

During the hearing, the judge asked the defence lawyer to avoid asking the NAB witness irrelevant questions.

Defence counsel Haris said he would not object without any reason.

The court adjourned the hearing of the case till today (Wednesday).