Ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Capt (r) Safdar appeared before accountability court in connection of corruption references filed against them by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) today.
The references are filed with connection of London properties and Azizia Steel Mill.
For the first time, all three reached in a single car as they have always arrived in separate vehicles. Meanwhile, central leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) including Railway Minister Saad Rafique, Talal Chaudhary, Mariyum Aurengzeb and Talal Chaudhary also reached outside the court.
The hearing is underway with reference to Islamabad High Court (IHC) verdict of clubbing all three reference into one.
On firday, Judge Muhammad Bashir stated that he read in newspaper that IHC has ordered to club all reference into one. Upon this NAB deputy prosecutor told that that IHC did not give such verdict rather referred it back to accountability court.
Furthermore, the judge read IHC verdict in which court was asked conduct hearing under Article 17-D which stated "A person accused of offences more than one of same nature, may be charged and tried at one trial for any number of references."
Nawaz Sharif's lawyer, Khawaja Haris argued in favour of 17-D and requested the court to merge all reference into one.
Nawaz, Maryam and Captain (r) Safdar left accountability court as the court took a 15-minute break. The arguments of Khawaja Haris ended regarding merging of references.
The court reserved the verdict over merging the references appeal of Nawaz Sharif till tomorrow. The court will also hear Maryam Nawaz's appeal regarding Calibri font.
