References against Sharif Family: AC adjourns hearing until Nov 7

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar have on Friday appeared before the the accountability court in corruption references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The accountability court (AC) judge Muhammad Bashir resumed hearing of the three corruption references against the Sharif family. During the proceedings, the counsel of the former PM submitted surety bonds in Flagship Investment and Azizia Steel Mills references. The court directed to present the copy of decision of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on petitions filed by the former premier Nawaz Sharif seeking to club all corruption references filed against him by the country’s anti-graft watchdog. The AC judge remarked that hearing cannot be resumed until the detailed judgment of Islamabad High Court (IHC). The IHC had directed the accountability court to again hear Nawaz's plea seeking to club the three references against him. The court later adjourned the hearing until November 7. Large number of party leaders and workers are also present at the Judicial Complex, while stringent security arrangements have been made on the occasion. Sharif returned to Pakistan from London on Thursday after weeks of speculation. He had been staying in the UK capital while his wife underwent cancer treatment. Last month, the court issued bailable arrest warrants after the former PM failed to show up for previous hearings. On October 19, the accountability court (AC) had indicted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar in Avenfield reference filed against Sharif family by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). 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 labelled 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.