Accountability court reserves verdict on Nawaz's plea to merge NAB references

Dunya News

The decision will be announced on Wednesday.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Accountability court on Tuesday has reserved verdict on ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s petition seeking merger of Avenfield properties, Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investments references filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against him.

The decision will be announced on Wednesday.

Earlier today, Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar appeared before the court during which their counsel Khawaja Harris argued that all three cases are of same defence and their witnesses are also same, therefore, it is requested to club them.

The plea was abruptly opposed by NAB prosecutor after which the hearing was adjourned for a while and former PM was allowed to leave the court.

Earlier on Friday, the court adjourned hearing of NAB references against Sharif family after one hour without any proceeding. Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Captain (r) Safdar also submitted two bonds worth Rs5 million in the court.

Talking to media, Nawaz Sharif said that he is being punished for eradicating terrorism and load shedding in the country. He continued that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari is abusing him to make someone else happy. He asserted that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) struggled for the freedom of judiciary.

The Supreme Court 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.