SC approves three-year extension of NAB judge hearing Sharifs’ case

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ISLAMABAD: Taking notice of the pending extension of Accountability Court-I Judge Mohammad Bashir, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday approved a three-year extension in his service tenure.

Judge Bashir is hearing the corruption references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against the ex-PM Nawaz Sharif, his family, and ex-finance minister Ishaq Dar.

The law secretary had earlier told the court that a summary of the extension of service has been forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat and will be approved in a few days.

The apex court had summoned the law secretary to explain what the government is doing about the matter as the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has requested the Law Ministry for an extension in the judge’s tenure.

The law secretary had assured the court that the ministry will extend the judge’s service term before its expiry.

He was appointed as a judge in the accountability court during 2012, and was granted a three-year extension in 2015 by the federal government on the recommendations of the IHC.

Since September 2017, Judge Mohammad Bashir is hearing London flats, Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investment references against ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar and also leading assets beyond income case against former finance minister Ishaq Dar.

Extension in deadline of anti-graft trials against Sharifs, Dar:

On Wednesday, SC extended the deadline of the trial against Nawaz Sharif in an accountability court by two months on the request of the NAB. The three-judge bench also extended by three months the deadline for the accountability court hearing the illegal assets case against former finance minister Ishaq Dar.