–NAB Rawalpindi DG Irfan Mangi says met judges to discuss provision of facilities at judicial complex for legal team
–Police stop journalists from interacting with Nawaz Sharif at Thursday’s hearing of Al-Azizia and Flagship reference
Director General of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi, Irfan Mangi on Thursday met the judges hearing corruption references against the Sharif family, a private news channel has reported.
Mangi arrived at the Judicial Complex in Islamabad, where he met with accountability judges Mohammad Bashir and Arshad Malik, the report said, adding that the meeting took place in the chamber of Judge Malik after the time for judicial proceedings had ended. The meeting lasted for one-and-a-half hour in which supervisor of the Panamagate prosecution team, Sardar Muzaffar, was also present.
It is pertinent to mention here that Judge Bashir had given the Avenfield properties verdict against former premier Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law.
Nawaz was sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison and slapped a £8 million fine in the Avenfield properties reference while his daughter Maryam was sentenced to eight years with a £2 million fine. Nawaz’s son-in-law Capt (r) Safdar was given a one year sentence without any fine.
Judge Malik has been hearing Al-Azizia and Flagship references against the former premier and his family.
Reached for comment on the meeting, Mangi said they faced issues, including the issue of an office for investigating officers.
“Our lawyers have a small room here; there is air conditioning problem as well,” the DG NAB said. He said the Panama case had concluded and now they had nothing to do with these references.
“We are not even a witness in these cases now,” he said. “Whatever is to be now is to be done by the courts.”
Earlier in the day, Nawaz Sharif on Thursday appeared before an accountability court which resumed the hearing of remaining two corruption cases, Al-Azizia and Flagship references, against him and his family.
Nawaz’s counsel Khawaja Haris, who could not appear before the court in the last hearing due to his illness, continued his cross-examination of investigation officer Mehboob Alam.
At the last hearing, the judge had expressed his displeasure over the absence of defence counsel noting that the case has not made any progress in the present week.
He also remarked that the apex court is yet to grant an extension to complete the corruption trial.
Meanwhile, police stopped journalists from interacting with Nawaz Sharif when he was brought to the court.
