AC seeks extension in deadline for concluding references against Sharif family
ISLAMABAD, May 08 (TNS): The Accountability Court (AC) of Islamabad Tuesday summoned Joint Investigation Team (JIT) head Wajid Zia on May 10 to testify in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference against the Sharif family members.
During the course of proceedings, AC Judge Muhammad Bashir observed that the court had requested to the Supreme Court to seek extension in the deadline for concluding references against the Sharif family.
The decision on the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) request to record the statements of accused would also be taken after the apex court’s response, he added. The court also decided to announce the judgments in all the references simultaneously after completion of proceedings.
NAB’s Deputy Prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi informed the court regarding completion of prosecution evidence before the court in the Avenfield property reference. He requested the court to fix date to record the statements of accused.
However, defence counsel Khawaja Harris opposed the request and stated that the defence of his clients would be affected if their statements were recorded. He requested the court to record the statements of former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and other accused once the prosecution presented its evidences in all the references.
The prosecutor said according to the law after the presentation of prosecution evidences, the next phase was to record the statements of accused, but the defence counsel wanted to prolong the proceedings.
Maryam Nawaz’s counsel Amjad Pervaiz contended that they should be given the same time period that was given to the prosecution which took eight months to get recorded the statements of 18 witnesses.
