An Accountability Court hearing three corruption references against Sharif family Thursday rejected the pleas of Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Captain Muhammad Safdar (retd), seeking a two-week exemption from making personal appearance before the court.
Nawaz, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain Muhammad Safdar (retd) filed pleas on February 1, seeking exemption from personal appearance before the court from February 19 to March 5 on account of medical condition of Nawaz's wife Kulsoom Nawaz. Nawaz, Maryam and Safdar appeared before the Accountability Court.
Defence counsel Khawaja Haris said that six cycles of chemotherapy of Kulsoom Nawaz have been completed and now doctors will conduct her more tests and the presence of the accused is therefore mandatory there. Sharif's counsel pleaded the court to allow his clients to travel to London.
While opposing the plea, Deputy Prosecutor General NAB Muzaffar Abbasi said they have requested for exemption at a stage when material evidence have been submitted. The NAB has also recommended the Ministry of Interior to place the names of the accused on Exit Control List (ECL) as there is a possibility that they will flee abroad to avoid the process of law.
Abbasi further said that Nawaz's sons are already proclaimed offenders in the case. The court after hearing arguments of both the prosecution and defense counsels reserved its judgment for some time.Later, the court rejected pleas of Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Captain Muhammad Safdar (retd).
Moreover, the accused also signed and received the copies of two supplementary references filed by the NAB in connection with Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investments references.