NAB references: Lawyer Kh Harris calls Wajid Zia 'dishonest' man
Former PM was taken to the accountability court from Adiala Jail amid tight security.
RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – Ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s counsel Khawaja Harris on Tuesday has continued cross-examination of Joint Investigation Team (JIT) head Wajid Zia in Al-Azizia and Flagship Investments references.
During the hearing headed by Justice Malik Mohammad Arshad, Khawaja Harris called Wajid Zia as ‘dishonest’ man after which, harsh words were exchanged between both.
Zia revealed that the picture of Nawaz’s son Hussain Nawaz during interrogation was leaked from JIT office while he further refused to tell the name of the responsible person.
Earlier, Justice Malik Mohammad Arshad deferred hearing of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) references over Sharif family’s assistant lawyer’s appeal as defence counsel Khawaja Harris was busy in Supreme Court (SC) regarding extension in the cases’ duration.
Six weeks extension
SC had directed to complete trial of Flagship Investments and Al-Azizia Steel Mills references in six weeks.
The hearing was carried out by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar during which, ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer Khawaja Harris requested to extend the duration of the cases for three months.
However, the court rejected his appeal and ordered to conclude the cases in six weeks.
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 that is likely to further disrupt an already chaotic campaign for national elections this month.
Maryam Nawaz and Captain (r) Safdar, who were candidates for the forthcoming general elections 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 in the jail, 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.
