ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday rejected the plea of the former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Zafar Hijazi to dismiss the record tampering case against him.
Hijazi is accused of tampering the record of companies owned by the Sharif family
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani had reserved the judgment on March 7. In an application filed by Hijazi’s counsel, the former SECP chairman challenged the special court’s judgement of November 10, 2017, requesting to set aside the trial court’s order and acquit him from the case.
Following IHC decision, the record tampering case will continue in the trial court where the next hearing is scheduled for April 10.
Earlier, in October 2017, a special court of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) indicted Hijazi in a record tampering case pertaining to Chaudhry Sugar Mills owned by the Sharif family.
According to the charge sheet, Hijazi had coerced his subordinates to change dates on documents related to the sugar mills. Hijazi pleaded not guilty to the charges before the special court judge, Iram Niazi.
His counsel argued that the statement of SECP officer, Maheen Fatima, was not solid enough to initiate trial proceedings against Hijazi. However, the prosecutor opposed the remarks, following which Hijazi was indicted.
Hijazi was arrested by FIA on July 21 after the expiry of his bail before arrest.
A 28-page enquiry report was submitted by the FIA to the Supreme Court on July 9, in which it had accepted the decision of the joint investigation team investigating the offshore assets of then prime minister Nawaz Sharif with regards to the Panama Papers case.
