Charge sheet against Nawaz doesn’t mention Avenfield flats, says Haris

• Defence counsel argues no need to present evidence in defence as NAB failed to build a case against Nawaz
• Tariq Shafi’s statement and MLAs of UAE do not mention Nawaz

ISLAMABAD: Khawaja Haris, the lead counsel for Nawaz Sharif, on Friday asserted there was no need to present anything in defence of his clients—the Sharif— as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) failed to link Nawaz with the London apartments.

As the defence counsel resumed his closing arguments on Friday at the accountability court in Islamabad—chaired by Judge Muhammad Bashir— he remarked that the prosecution has failed to establish its case against former prime minister as his client’s name was not mentioned in documents submitted by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Avenfield property reference.

Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir resumed hearing of Avenfield property reference filed by National Accountability Bureau. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz couldn’t appear before the court due to exemption from hearing.

Only an affidavit of Sherry Naqvi was related to Avenfield property among a total of eighty documents submitted by the prosecution side, he said, adding that Nawaz Sharif has no connection with the London flats.

He stated that former prime minister was not the beneficial owner of London flats, saying that the prosecution has failed to establish its case.

He said Avenfield property was not even mentioned in the charge sheet against his client. The miscellaneous applications, Tariq Shafi’s statement and MLAs of UAE, on which the prosecution was depending, also didn’t mention the name of Nawaz Sharif, he further added.

Haris said there was no need to present anything in defence of his clients as the prosecution itself has failed to establish the case.

The prosecution didn’t bring the miscellaneous applications of Nawaz Sharif submitted to the Supreme Court on the record either, he said.

He further stated that the matter of trust deed was only between Husain and Maryam Nawaz, adding that this trust deed has also no connection with the former prime minister.

The court, later, adjourned the hearing till Monday. The defence counsel would continue his final arguments in Avenfield property reference at the next hearing.