Last witness in Avenfield property reference testifies

ISLAMABAD: The Accountability Court of Islamabad Monday testified National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Operations Director General Zahir Shah, the last prosecution witness in the Avenfield property reference.

AC Muhammad Bashir recorded statement of the witness, after which defence lawyer Khawaja Harris cross-examined him. Former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz appeared before the court after their return from the United Kingdom.

During the proceedings, the witness submitted new documents about the ownership of Avenfield property, including bills and tax record, which, he said, were received in response to letters written to the UK authorities under mutual legal assistance (MLA).

Khawaja Haris raised objections on the documents that the same were not original and verified from the authority concerned.

The NAB deputy prosecutor adopted the stance that there was no need of verification as the documents were received by the Pakistan High Commission in the name of witness from relative UK authority.

To a question, Zahir Shah stated that the names of Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and sons were not mentioned in the documents.

Khawaja Haris requested the court order for recording the case proceedings.

The judge adjourned hearing of the reference till Tuesday when Maryam Nawaz’s counsel Amjad Pervaiz will cross-examine the DG NAB.