SC deadline to conclude corruption references against Sharifs ends

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) deadline for the conclusion of a corruption trial against the Sharif family ends on Sunday.

According to reports, the accountability court hearing the Al Azizia and Flagship corruption references will seek another extension to conclude the case, making it its sixth extension.

On August 27, SC had directed accountability court to conclude the trial within six weeks.

The Supreme Court had initially set a six-month deadline to conclude the four corruption references against the Sharif family.

Accountability Court II Judge Arshad Malik is hearing both, Al Azizia reference and the Flagship Investment case.

In the Al Azizia reference, statements of all witnesses have been recorded, while the cross-examination of the investigation officer is yet to conclude.

In thee Flagship Investment reference, the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) head Wajid Zia and the investigation officer are yet to appear before the court to record their statements in the case.

THE TRIAL: 

In 2017, the trial against the Sharif family commenced, following which, on July 6, after four extensions in the original six-month deadline to conclude all three cases, the court announced its verdict in the Avenfield reference.

Nawaz and his sons, Hussain and Hasan, are accused in all three references whereas Maryam and Safdar were 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.

On July 10, the Supreme Court granted another six-week extension for Accountability Court-I Judge Mohammad Bashir to conclude the remaining corruption references against Nawaz and former finance minister Ishaq Dar.