ISLAMABAD: An accountability court (AC) of Islamabad Wednesday granted exemption from hearing to former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz in NAB references.
The former prime minister was granted one week while her daughter was granted one month long exemption from attendance.
The AC judge Muhammad Bashir announced the judgment in petitions filed by former prime minister and his daughter seeking their exemption from hearing in ground of ailment of Kulsoom Nawaz in London.
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Capt. (Retd) Safdar appeared before the court along with their legal team amid foolproof security arrangements in place.
Nawaz Sharif had stated in his plea that he wanted a visit to inquire after the health of his ailing wife Kulsoom Nawaz, who was in London for cancer treatment. He requested the court to grant him one week exemption from hearing from November 20.
Counsel for Nawaz, Khawaja Harris contended that the representative of his client Zaafir Khan would appear on behalf of former prime minister in his absence.
On the other hand, Maryam Nawaz stated that whenever court would summon her, she would attend the court proceeding. She said her legal representative Jahangir Jadoon would attend the court proceeding on her behalf in case she has to visit abroad.
However, the NAB prosecutor opposed the exemption request Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, saying that the court proceeding would affected in their absence.
After hearing arguments from both sides the court later granted the exemption to the accused from hearing.
During yesterday proceeding of three references against Sharif family, the two witnesses of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) including Sidra Mansoor from Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and Jahangir Ahmed from Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) were also appeared before the accountability court to record their statements.
Sidra Mansoor stated that she had provided an audit report of Hudaibiya Papers Mills from 2000 to 2005 to NAB Lahore on August 18.
However, the Defense Counsel Khawaja Harris raised serious objections over the documents provided by the witness. He said the witness had submitted unverified documents that have not even stamp and file covers of company concerned.
The court summoned four more witnesses to testify and adjourned hearing of the case till November 22.
Meanwhile, the court postponed the matter to declare the sons of former prime minister Hassan and Hussain Nawaz for continuous non appearance before court, till next hearing.
It may be mentioned here that the accountability court was hearing three references against Sharif family members related to Avenfield property, Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investment filed by NAB in compliance of Supreme Court (SC) orders in Panama papers case.
The former prime minister had already been indicted in person in references on November 8.
