Al-Azizia, Hill Metal Establishment references: Nawaz Sharif to be produced in NAB court on Monday

ISLAMABAD: For the first time during the 11-month trial in the Avenfield reference, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif will be produced before an accountability court from Adyala jail on Monday to face Al-Azizia and Hill Metal Establishment references.

Following an Islamabad High Court (IHC) order to transfer the remaining corruption references against Sharif and his two sons to a different court, Accountability Court Judge Mohammad Arshad Malik conducted first hearing on Thursday and issued summons for Sharifs production from jail.

Also, the court has summoned the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) head,Wajid Zia for his cross-examination in the references on Monday.

According to reports, stringent security arrangements have been made for the arrival of Nawaz Sharif as he will be brought in court with security personnel. The vehicles carrying jammers and ambulances will also be included in the security caravan. More than 500 police personnel will be deployed in and outside the court and only the pass holders will be allowed to enter in court.

Earlier, Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir heard all the three references  Avenfield Apartments reference, Al-Azizia & Hill Metal Establishment and Flagship & other companies reference  for 10 months and pronounced the judgment in the Avenfield Apartments reference on July 6.

Judge Bashir convicted Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Capt (retd) Safdar and awarded 10 years, seven years and two years sentences, respectively, while imposing a heavy fine on the father and his daughter.

Roughly, the accused appeared before the court over 80 times.

During the hearing, NAB Deputy Prosecutor General (DPG) Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi informed the court that Sharif could not be produced before the court due to security concerns and then appraised the judge of pending references.

NAB’s pending references are against Sharif and his sons Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz  who have been declared proclaimed offenders due to their failure to appear before the court.

Sharif’s counsel, Khawaja Haris, informed the court that the IHC was to hear an appeal by members of the Sharif family, seeking suspension of their sentences and granting them bail on Monday. He then requested the court to adjourn cross-examination of Zia until Friday.

The prosecution can produce Zia for recording his statement in the Flagship reference if they want, he added.

The court, however, fixed Zia’s cross-examination for Monday and said the defence may examine Zia if he has time left from his legal commitments before the IHC.