Naqvi granted chance to question witnesses

The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) gave former Supreme Court judge Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi another chance on Thursday to cross-examine the witnesses by himself or through counsel in the corruption reference against him.

The SJC, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, continued to proceed against the former judge, who had already resigned from the apex court more than a month ago, following the initiation of the SJC proceedings.

During the proceedings, the owner of a housing society recorded his statement. Zahid Rafiq, the owner of Lahore Smart City, testified that he had met with Naqvi twice at his residence and that he knew the two sons of the former judge.

The council asked why Rs50 million was paid by Smart City to Chaudhry Shahbaz on behalf of Mazahar Naqvi. Rafiq replied that they paid one Raja Safdar. He added that his company had been paying Rs150,000 per month to the law firm of Naqvi’s sons.

Rafiq further told the SJC that once Naqvi’s daughter needed money in an emergency in London, Raja Safdar asked him to pay the amount. On that, he added, he sent £5,000 to her in London through a friend in Dubai. The sum of £5,000 was never repaid, he alleged.

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Furthermore, Zahid Rafiq said that two plots measuring 500 square yards were given to the two sons of Mazahar Naqvi, adding that each plot was worth Rs5.4 million, but only 10% of the total amount was paid. Both plots had been transferred to Naqvi’s sons, the witness said.

Besides, two commercial plots of 100 square yards in Smart City Lahore were also given to the two sons of Naqvi; each was worth Rs8 million, the witness added. He further said that Naqvi’s sons sold both commercial plots, but he could not say at what price.

At the outset of the proceedings, the manager of a private bank presented the record of a bank draft worth Rs50 million to the SJC. Another witness, Chaudhry Shehbaz told the SJC that a case of cheque dishonour against his wife, the late Dr Bisma Warsi, remained pending before Naqvi in the Lahore High Court.

The SJC chairman observed that the former judge, Mazahar Naqvi, could cross-examine the witnesses through his lawyer. He said that he was repeating that if no one came forward, it would be considered that there was nothing in defence.

The proceedings would continue on Friday (today).