Nawaz and Maryam get a day’s exemption in anti-graft hearing

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ISLAMABAD: The accountability court on Thursday approved a one-day exemption request of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam, who are in London to attend to ailing Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.

Accountability Judge Muhammad Bashir was hearing the Avenfield reference case, where Maryam’s lawyer Amjad Pervez presented his final arguments.

He informed the court that unlike Nawaz’s counsel, he would not take seven days to present his concluding arguments. “I will complete my final arguments within 3-4 days,” he said.

NAB Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar was also present in the court.

Pervez then submitted an old medical report of Begum Kulsoom in the court and filed a seven-day exemption request for the defendants. He informed the court that Begum Kulsoom’s new medical report will be received by Friday and submitted to the court accordingly.

Presenting his arguments, Maryam’s counsel stated that the prosecution had failed to establish its case. He said that his case was different from Khawaja Haris, adding that the apex court did not mention the name of Maryam Nawaz and Muhammad Safdar in its decision dated April 2017.

Amjad said the prosecution did not provide volume-X to the court, adding that it could affect the trial direction.

The defense counsel also informed the court that he would be able to conclude his arguments till next Tuesday. After that the court adjourned hearing of the case till tomorrow.

Earlier on June 25, the accountability court hearing corruption cases against the Sharif Family approved the three-day exemption request to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz from the court appearance. The request was made for a seven-day exemption, however, the court approved only three days.