ISLAMABAD: Deposed Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif on Monday reached Accountability Court in ongoing hearing of Flagship reference against him, filed by the National Accountability Bureau on the orders of the Supreme Court.
Judge, Arshad Malik is presiding over the proceedings, while defence counsel Khawaja Haris is continuing cross-examining the prosecution key witness Wajid Zia, who led the Panama Joint Investigation Team (JIT).
During last hearing of the case on Friday, Nawaz Sharif’s lawyers asked Accountability Court to take notice of the Information Minister’s statement, in which he claimed that the former PM would be convicted in flagship reference.
Zubair Khalid Advocate asked Judge Arshad Malik to take notice of the matter as the minister’s statement would damage the credibility of the court.
The judge asked whether the minister generally speaking or he was talking about the court. He said during a murder trial suspects were of the view that the court would acquit them, but he said regardless of what the suspects say, the case would be decided by the court.
He directed the lawyers of former prime minister to file an application on the matter so that the court could review it.
Sharif’s lawyer Khawaja Haris asked the court to seek transcript of the minister’s statement.
On October 25, Zia contended in the court that Gorneca International confirmed that the copies of the documents provided by Capital FZE are genuine. However, he did point out that Gorneca did not include any JIT member in the investigation.
“JIT did not request any information regarding Capital FZE nor requested the verified copies of its trading license,” said Zia, adding that the JIT has not taken information about the owner, directors, secretary and signing authority of Capital FZE.
The JIT head further added that the investigation team did not find any document that identify the date on which Capital FZE was set up. “It is true that while making the statements on Avenfield reference, I had sought help from various volunteers.”
It may be recalled that on October 12, the top court extended the deadline to wrap-up corruption references (Flagship, Al-Azizia) against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif till November 17.
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