ISLAMABAD: Former premier Nawaz Sharif’s counsel Khawaja Haris Wednesday pleaded before the Accountability Court (AC) of Islamabad that any part of the Joint Investigation Team’s (JIT) report on Panama Leaks could not be accepted as evidence against his client.
Giving arguments in the Al-Aziza Steel Mills reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against his client, he said the prosecution could not give any reference of the JIT report.
He claimed that the prosecution had not proved the sons of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif were his dependents. The letter of Qatri prince also had no connection with the former prime minister, he added.
AC Judge Arshad Malik, who was conducting the hearing, remarked that the case was not related to a ‘benamidar’ transaction rather it was regarding a crime that was done as a ‘benamidar’ owner of the assets.
Addressing Khawaja Haris, the judge observed: “You were giving arguments regarding a ‘benamidar’ transaction. However, in the case, the accused was blamed for hiding his crime under the guise of ‘benamidar’ ownership.”
The judge also observed that it seemed the defence counsel did not want conclusion of the trial in the time period given by the Supreme Court.
At this, Haris said he would try to conclude his arguments on Thursday. His client would also complete his statement on Thursday.