Nawaz granted three-day exemption from appearance in Al-Azizia reference

There will be no interruption in the trial, assured defence lawyer.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Accountability court on Monday has granted ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif three-day exemption from his appearance in Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference.

During the hearing headed by Justice Mohammad Arshad Malik, defence lawyer Khawaja Harris requested for exemption of his client as he is in Lahore after Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended his sentence in Avenfield reference.

There will be no interruption in the trial as Ibrahim Haroon will appear before the court as Nawaz’s representative, he added.

The defence lawyer continued cross-examination of Panama Joint Investigation Team (JIT) head Wajid Zia. 

During previous hearing, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor Muzaffar Abbasi and defence lawyer Khawaja Harris had exchanged harsh words.

Convicted and sentenced

It is to be mentioned here that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Captain Safdar were convicted and sentenced to prison in absentia for ten years, seven years and one year respectively, in Avenfield verdict.

Maryam Nawaz and Captain (r) Safdar, who were candidates for the general elections 2018, were also disqualified from contesting elections for 10 years each.

The sentence and a fine of 8 million pounds, or $10.6 million, came almost a year after Supreme Court removed Sharif from office and less than five months after the court barred him from holding office for life.

Nawaz Sharif was convicted under section 9(a)(5) of the NAB ordinance.

The case stemmed from the Panama Papers leak that disclosed expensive and undeclared property owned by the Sharif family in London.

Arrested and shifted to Adiala Jail

Safdar was arrested by the NAB authorities in Rawalpindi on July 9 while Nawaz Sharif and Maryam were taken into custody by the officials few minutes after their flight landed at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport on Friday night and shifted to Adiala Jail.

Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir, who was present at the jail primises, issued warrants for imprisonment for Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz. A team of doctors conducted the medical checkup of both the accused and declared them fit.

Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were then shifted to B-Class facility in Adiala Jail.