Al-Azizia reference: Defence lawyer begins final arguments

Khawaja Haris tells court no evidence to prove Sharif owned assets

ISLAMABAD: Lawyer for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif pleaded to the accountability court in Islamabad on Tuesday that his client could not be declared a 'benamidar' owner of the assets just because he availed benefit from them.

Giving his final arguments in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference, Khawaja Haris said that Sharif had never depended on the Gulf Steel Mills financially and he also had no first-hand information about it.

Judge Arshad Malik heard the reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against the Sharif family members. Sharif could not appear before the court because of his appearance before the Supreme Court in another case.

Haris argued that the joint investigation team (JIT) had also admitted in its report that Sharif had given a statement about the Gulf Steel Mills on the basis of hearsay. He added that his client had nothing to do with the letters of Qatari prince, which only pertained to his son Hassan Nawaz.

About the Al-Azizia Steel Mills, the lawyer said that there were three shareholders -- Hussain Nawaz, Abbas Sharif and Rabia Sharif. He informed the court the Sharif did not hold any public office when the mill was established and he [Sharif] did not receive any amount from it.

Haris said that the prosecution could not present any evidence to prove Sharif as a 'benamdar' owner. Only receiving money from his son through the Hill Metal Establishment did not prove Nawaz owned those assets, he said. The investigation officer's statement was an unacceptable evidence in accordance of law, he added.

Continuing, the defence counsel said that Hassan Nawaz was 29 in 2001 when the Al-Azizia Steel Mills was established. The prosecution did not present any evidence to prove that Hassan Nawaz was dependent of his father, he maintained. He also pointed out that the JIT did not investigate transfer of money from Hill Metals to his client.

Haris would continue his final arguments on Wednesday (today). The judge ordered Sharif to appear in the court on Wednesday and record his statement in the Flagship reference.

During the hearing, Judge Malik said that he was little under the weather and had come to the court after taking medicine. At this another defence lawyer, Zubair Khalid advised the judge to use warm water.

On the occasion, Express News correspondent referred to his China visit and mentioned that Chinese people drink warm water and there is hardly anyone obese. There was laughter in the courtroom when the judge retorted to reporter Naeem Asghar, asking what is the punishment for corruption in China?