ISLAMABAD: An accountability court conducting corruption proceedings against the Sharif family completed the cross-examination of the last witness in the Avenfield reference on Monday.
The Avenfield properties reference is among the three cases filed against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family by NAB in 2017 on the Supreme Court’s directives.
Accountability Court-I Judge Mohammad Bashir is presiding over the Avenfield properties reference against Nawaz, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law MNA Capt (r) Safdar.
During Monday’s hearing, Maryam’s counsel Amjad Pervez cross-examined NAB’s last witness and Investigation Officer Imran Dogar.
At the last hearing on May 4, Nawaz’s counsel Khawaja Harris had resumed his cross-examination of NAB Investigation Officer (IO) Imran Dogar.
Imran Dogar had apprised the court that the reference filed against deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif was solely based on the evidence gathered by Supreme Court-mandated Panamagate Joint Investigation Team (JIT).
During his cross-examination, Dogar informed the court of NAB’s procedure of inquiries and investigations, as well as lodging of references in court. Moreover, he informed the court that the interim investigation report of the Avenfield case was prepared on September 6 last year.
Dogar also stated that he had no role in the work of the Panama Papers case Joint Investigation Team.
Later, Pervez concluded his cross-examination after which the hearing was adjourned until 11:30am on Tuesday. The prosecutor said he will give a statement in court on the conclusion of arguments and presentation of evidence.
The court, responding to Pervez’s query, directed that the accused do not need to appear in court at the next hearing,
The trial against the Sharif family had commenced on September 14, 2017.
The corruption references, filed against the Sharifs, pertain to the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment, offshore companies including Flagship Investment Ltd, and Avenfield properties of London.
Nawaz and sons Hussain and Hasan are accused in all three references whereas his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Safdar are accused in the Avenfield reference only.
The two brothers, based abroad, have been absconding since the proceedings began last year and were declared proclaimed offenders by the court.
The court originally had a deadline of six months which ended in mid-March but was extended for two months after the judge requested the apex court.
