Avenfield reference: No need to present witness in defence, says Nawaz
NAB prosecutor raised objections after which the plea was turned down.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday has started recording his statement after accountability court rejected his miscellaneous plea in Avenfield reference.
During the hearing headed by Justice Mohammad Bashir, Nawaz’s counsel Khawaja Harris submitted a petition, requesting the court to record answers of remaining five questions after completion of cross-examination of witnesses in other two cases.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor raised objections after which the plea was turned down.
Nawaz Sharif said that dictators have defamed country’s name, therefore, they should also get punishment. I received a message to either resign from the premiership or take long vacations during sit-ins in 2014, he added.
The ex-PM told that he didn’t get pressurized over dismissing former president Musharraf’s case. Standing against dictator is a difficult task, he continued.
Nawaz complained that many PML-N candidates were deprived of the electoral symbol for Senate elections, adding that some of the people involved in his disqualification will be relieved now.
I take it as my insult to get certificate of patriotism from others, he asserted.
‘No need to present witness in my defence’
After concluding his statement, Nawaz Sharif has decided to not present any witness in his defence as he doesn’t need to prove his innocence.
NAB has failed to prove its case against me in the court, he said.
Previously, Nawaz Sharif had told that solicitor Akhtar Raja was cousin of Panama Joint Investigation Team (JIT) head Wajid Zia. Raja’s statement in court was biased and that he sent documents in hurry to the self-made forensic expert, he added.
He further said that Akhtar Raja, NAB investigation officer and JIT didn’t try to obtain the copies of trust deeds, adding the solicitor should have known that there is nothing written on the photocopy regarding forensic inspection.
He revealed that Qatari prince has never refused to participate in JIT proceedings. The investigators didn’t take serious efforts to record prince’s statement, he continued.
Nawaz Sharif had also told the details of all the public offices he held so far. He also answered the question related to the formation of Panama Joint Investigation Team (JIT).
I am 68 years old and I have served as Chief Minister of Punjab and Prime Minister of Pakistan. I had raised objection over JIT members under Article 10 (A) of the Constitution. JIT members were having political affiliation as Bilal Rasool was nephew of former Punjab governor, Nawaz recorded.
He said that son of Mian Azhar, Hamad Azhar took picture with Imran Khan in 2017, adding that Bilal Rasool had given anti-Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) statements.
