AC dismisses Nawaz’s objections over NAB’s supplementary reference

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – An accountability court (AC) has on Tuesday dismissed the objections raised by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on the supplementary reference filed against him and his family in the accountability court by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) over London flats. The accountability court (AC) judge Muhammad Bashir read out the judgment the court reserved earlier in the morning today. The AC resumed hearing of mega corruption references filed against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in line with the Supreme Court directive in the Panamagate case. Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar appeared before the court amid tight security. Nawaz Sharif appeared before the court for 15th time. During the proceedings, Khawaja Harris objected to the filing of a supplementary reference in the Avenfield case, arguing that there is nothing new in the supplementary reference. He appealed the court not to accept the supplementary reference. The court while adjourning the hearing, summoned five more witnesses in the next hearing. In today’s hearing, three more witnesses recorded their statements, while Khawaja Harris, the counsel of the former premier cross examined the witnesses. Previously, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed three cases of corruption and money laundering against Sharif, his family members and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the Islamabad Accountability Court following the verdict. The anti-graft body NAB had frozen the bank accounts and seized properties of Sharif and his family members to put pressure on them to appear before the court. The Sharifs have denied any wrongdoing and have labeled the corruption proceedings against them as politically motivated. Two of Nawaz’s sons are also due to appear before the NAB court, along with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. Nawaz was disqualified by the Supreme Court in July for not declaring a source of income that he disputes receiving. Pakistan’s top court also ordered a wide-ranging NAB investigation and trial into Sharif family members. The Supreme Court specified that the trial be concluded within six months by NAB, which has in the past been derided as toothless because rich and powerful politicians were seldom convicted.