Avenfield reference: NAB appeals IHC to dispose of Nawaz Sharif's pleas
NAB has requested the court to dispose of Nawaz's pleas and and uphold his sentence
ISLAMABD (Dunya News) – National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday has requested the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to conduct hearing on Avenfield and Al-Azizia references against former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif as early as possible.
The anti-graft watchdog, in its petition, has appealed the high court to dispose of the pleas of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and uphold his sentence.
Nawaz Sharif is an absconder and misusing his bail by intentionally skipping the hearing, the bureau representative stated.
Trial History
An accountability court on July 06, 2018 jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (r) Muhammad Safdar for 10, 7 and 1 year respectively, in Avenfield properties reference case filed by the National Accountability Bureau.
NAB prosecutor had argued law turns onus of proof on accused after ownership of flats [by Sharifs] has been established. He said, “The agreement of money transfer turned out to be fake. Likewise, the deed declaring Maryam Nawaz trustee was also proved fake. She possesses assets beyond her declared source of income.”
NAB prosecutor further added Sharifs had not registered ‘Calibri font’ trust deed in UK. He said, “Maryam Nawaz crafted this trust deed and declared his brother beneficial owner.”
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.
The IHC had suspended sentences of Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Captain (r) Safdar in the Avenfield reference.
Justice Athar Minallah, while announcing the verdict, had directed to release ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar over surety bonds worth Rs0.5 million each.
An accountability court had also handed Nawaz Sharif sentence in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference, and acquitted him in a second reference related to Flagship Investments.
In the Flagship reference, NAB had claimed that Sharif and his sons set up Flagship Investment Limited and 15 other companies and used these companies “to manage/acquire expensive properties/any movement of funds to hide the real sources of funds.”
