Court rejects Nawaz, Maryam plea for exemption from appearance

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Accountability Court Judge Bashir Ahmed on Thursday rejected the plea of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam for exemption from appearance in the Avenfield reference. On the other hand, the statement of JIT chief Wajid Zia could not be a completed. The court has adjourned the case until March 27. 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.