References against the Sharifs: NAB seeks yet another extension in deadline

For the third time, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has requested the Supreme Court to extend deadline to dispose of graft references against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family members. The Supreme Court in its July 28, 2017 verdict in the Panama Papers case had disqualified the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and directed NAB to file three references against him, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, son-in-law Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar and sons Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz.
The accountability court was initially given six months to conclude the references, while an extension of two months was given in March and another extension of one month was given in May. The apex court on May 9, 2018 had extended the deadline for the accountability court to conclude trial in three corruption references against Nawaz Sharif and his family members until June 9.
In its petition seeking extension to conclude the trial, the accountability court has adopted the stance that the apex court's June 9 deadline to announce verdict in the case is set to expire, however many witnesses are yet to be testified.
The petition stated that the concluding proceedings in the trial of the Sharif family in the Avenfield reference is underway, while joint investigation team (JIT) head and also a key prosecution witness Wajid Zia is being persecuted in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference. Besides, the statement of investigation office is yet to be recorded.
It has been maintained in the petition that the verdict in the case cannot be handed down on June 9, thus deadline may be extended. It is pertinent to mention here that the Supreme Court has previously twice extended the duration of the case. Initially, it had ordered the accountability court to announce verdict in the case within six months.
However, when the trial failed to complete in six months, the apex court had provided two more months to accomplish the process. "We are certain the trial will conclude by June 9," the Supreme Court had ruled while extending the deadline for second time on May 9. The first date to conclude the trial had expired on May 12.