Accountability court rejects Nawaz, Maryam's exemption request

An accountability court rejected on Thursday the exemption application filed by the Sharifs in cases pertaining to the references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

According to local media reports, Judge Muhammad Bashir rejected deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz's request to grant them exemption from appearance.

Earlier on Thursday morning, Sharif and Maryam filed an application requesting exemption from the court for a week starting from March 26. The application came with an attached medical report of Nawaz's wife Kulsoom Nawaz, who has been undergoing treatment in London since last year. The request stated that in their absence, Ali Aimal and Jahangir Jadoon will represent Nawaz and Maryam respectively.

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NAB prosecutor had opposed the exemption request, saying that the Sharifs should not be allowed to leave the country. Nawaz and Maryam had appeared before the court in the morning and later left after submitting their requests.

Speaking to the media, Maryam expressed her disappointment towards the NAB prosecutor’s question in asking whether the whole family had to travel to London as Nawaz's sons, Hussain and Hassan Nawaz, were already there. She said the prosecutor's question was disheartening.

Meanwhile, former head of the Joint Investigation Team Wajid Zia continued recording his statements in the Avenfield properties references.

On Wednesday, Judge Bashir had rejected Sharifs application requesting that Zia only provide portions of reports of the JIT. The court ruled that admissibility of evidence will be decided at the time of final verdict.