Captain (r) Safdar submits exemption plea during NAB references hearing
Nawaz Sharif is not present in the hearing due to exemption.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Accountability court on Monday has resumed the hearing of Avenfield properties, Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investment references against Sharif family today (Tuesday).
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court judge Justice Mohammad Bashir is hearing the case during which, ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar submitted a plea seeking exemption from the hearing.
While recording his statement, the prosecutor’s witness Malik Tayyab told the court that Maryam Safdar received Rs12 million cheque on June 13, 2015 and Rs28.8 million cheque on November 15, 2015. She also got Rs 19.5 million cheque from Nawaz Sharif on August 14, 2016.
Talking to media outside accountability court, Captain (r) Safdar said that Nawaz Sharif was disqualified for being ‘made in Pakistan’. He claimed that corrupt officials launched investigation against Sharif family.
Lashing out at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Captain (r) Safdar said that Imran Khan promoted western agenda in Pakistan. Troubles always befall on virtuous people, he added.
Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz are not present in the hearing as earlier the court granted exemption to Nawaz Sharif for one week and rejected same plea of his daughter.
On the other hand, Islamabad High Court (IHC) had rejected Nawaz Sharif’s pleas seeking merger of all three NAB references against him and directed accountability court to continue trial against the Sharif family.
Nawaz Sharif said, “No matter whatever verdict is announced by Islamabad High Court on unification of three NAB references, seek favorable decision on immunity from appearance plea.” He taunted that he would be disqualified in Imran Khan and Jehangir Tarin disqualification cases too.
SC disqualified Sharif from office in July over unreported sources of annual income of about $10,000, a salary the former premier denies ever receiving. The high court also ordered the NAB to investigate and conduct a trial into the Sharif family’s wider finances, including the London properties.
Sharif maintains control of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, which elected close ally Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as prime minister after Sharif was disqualified.
