National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday presented more 'evidence' pertaining to properties owned by Hassan Nawaz, the son of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, before the Accountability Court-II. Arshad Malik, the judge of the Accountability Court-II, heard the Flagship Investments reference against Sharif and his sons. The final witness of prosecution and investigation officer, Muhammad Kamran, recorded his statement before the court.
At the outset of proceedings, the counsel for Sharif submitted an application, seeking exemption for his client from the hearing, which the court accepted. The witness presented official copies of covering letter and register of title pertaining to land registration of the Avenfield House, owned by Sharif's sons. He also submitted a copy of the official letter written to investigating officer of the UK by NAB during investigation of the case.
The IO testified before the court that he recorded the statement of Shahid Mehmood on February 10, 2018. He said that Mehmood provided him a CD and a DVD of Nawaz Sharif from state-run Pakistan Television, which included his addresses to the nation and the National Assembly. On this, an assistant lawyer for Khawaja Haris, the lead counsel for Nawaz Sharif, wanted to record his statement, prompting the judge to say that they should not raise objection on every sentence and let the witness complete his statement.
The prosecution witness will continue his testimony in the case today (Friday). The court would record the statement of Nawaz Sharif in the Flagship and the Al-Azizia references after the prosecution witness completes recording of his testimony.
The NAB prosecutor objected after the counsel for Sharif requested the court to give the questionnaire in advance to the former prime minister in the Flagship and the Al-Azizia references. He argued that the lawyer for Sharif should read Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which clearly states that a questionnaire could not be given in advance, adding that the top anti-graft body had objected over advance provision of questionnaire in the Avenfield case.
However, he said that it is up to the judge whether or not he provides the questionnaire in advance. As per the latest deadline given by the Supreme Court to the accountability court, Judge Mohammad Arshad Malik is required to conclude the proceedings in both the Flagship and the Al-Azizia references by November 17.
The Supreme Court on July 28 last year disqualified the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and directed NAB to file three references before the accountability court.
Comments
Comments are closed.