ISLAMABAD: Accountability Court-I Judge Muhammad Bashir will conduct the hearing of the Al-Azizia corruption reference against the Nawaz family in Adiala jail today.
In today’s hearing, Nawaz’s lawyer Khawaja Haris will interrogate prosecution witness Wajid Zia.
The former prime minister’s legal counsel had earlier contacted the Islamabad High Court against conducting a jail-trial and suspension of the sentence in the Avenfield Properties reference verdict.
A two-member bench of the high court comprising of Justice Moshin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb will hear both petitions today.
Last week, the accountability court had shunned the Sharif family’s petition to transfer the Al-Azizia corruption reference to another judge.
Judge Muhammad Bashir had sentenced Nawaz, daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) Safdar Awan to jail in the Avenfield properties reference on July 6.
Yesterday (July 16), Judge Bashir recused himself from hearing Al-Azizia and Flagship references against the Sharif family, sources informed media.
In a letter to the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the judge stated that he had announced the verdict of Avenfield properties case and could not hear Al-Azizia and Flagship references. Judge Bashir further stated that if required, then he could also be transferred.
The accountability court judge noted that Nawaz’s counsel had also demurred to him hearing the other two cases. Sources further said the letter was written to the IHC Chief Justice Anwar Kasi two days ago, who is apparently on leave.
The former premier and his daughter were arrested by NAB officials upon their arrival in Lahore on July 13 and subsequently moved to Adiala prison in Rawalpindi.
The trial
The trial against the Sharif family had commenced on September 14, 2017.
On July 6, after four extensions in the original six-month deadling to conclude all three cases, the court announced its verdict in the Avenfield reference.
Nawaz was sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison and slapped a £8 million fine (Rs1.3 billion) while Maryam was sentenced to eight years with a £2 million fine (Rs335 million). Moreover, Maryam’s husband, Capt (retd) Safdar, was sentenced to one year in prison.
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.
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