IHC adjourns Avenfield hearing as NAB prosecutor falls ill

Court told prosecutor's symptoms similar to those of Covid; hearing adjourned till 18 Jan

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) adjourned on Tuesday the hearing of Maryam Nawaz's appeal against her conviction in Avenfield case on the request of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after its prosecutor, Usman Ghani, fell ill.

The petition was filed by NAB’s prosecutor in Islamabad during the hearing of Maryam Nawaz’s appeal against her sentence.

According to the petition, the prosecutor had a “high-grade fever with excruciating body aches and pains” and experienced a “loss of smell and taste”. Therefore, he was advised not to travel and “observe bed rest” as the symptoms were similar to those of Covid.

He was “unable to travel, personally attend and assist” the court on the hearing date.

The petition requested that the court adjourn the hearing.

A two-member bench of the IHC headed by Justice Amir Farooq heard the case and accepted NAB's request for adjournment.

Pakistan Muslim League-N’s Vice President Maryam Nawaz, Captain Safdar, Junaid Safdar and PML-N party leaders were also present in the court.

Read Avenfield: Maryam’s appeal fixed for hearing

Maryam’s lawyer, Irfan Qadir, and NAB prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi also appeared in the court.

Justice Amir Farooq maintained that Sardar Muzaffar should have informed Irfan Qadir earlier. However, the prosecutor maintained that he found out about Cheema’s ill-health on Monday evening.

“The symptoms sound like Covid. May God bless him,” Irfan said.

The court adjourned the case till January 18.

Last month, the IHC had directed the NAB to prove with evidence that Maryam was a beneficial owner of the Avenfield apartments.

During the hearing, the NAB prosecutor argued that Maryam was the beneficial owner of the Avenfield apartments and had helped her father hide his ownership. He added that the financial sources used to buy the apartments were also not disclosed.

Justice Kayani questioned how a daughter could be found guilty if the buyer did not disclose the source.