My basic rights are being usurped, says Nawaz

ISLAMABAD (92 News) Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif complained on Monday that his basic human rights were being usurped by the court. “If a verdict before July 25 elections is a 'need' or a 'compulsion' then do it,” Nawaz asked while talking to the journalists. He added that it would be akin to making a mockery of legal requirements, the law, human rights and judicial norms. Nawaz said a situation was being created where he is now being denied legal counsel as well. He told that no other defendant in a serious case has appeared 100 times before the court. “Is it more important to complete the legal formalities or to announce the verdict before the elections,” he asked. The former president said that Khawaja Haris, his counsel in the references has recused himself from the cases over undue pressure and workload. He added that no lawyer would take up a case where he is not even allowed time to prepare for the case. “It is impossible for a lawyer to take on a case at this stage and begin arguments the next day. Such an environment is being created that I am deprived of a legal counsel as well,” the former premier told journalists. Earlier in the day, Nawaz's legal counsel Khawaja Haris recused himself during the Al-Azizia reference hearing. Haris said the Supreme Court had dictated on completing the trial within a month. On Sunday, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar had directed the accountability court to announce its verdict on all three corruption references against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family within a month.