ISLAMABAD - Accountability court on Monday adjourned hearing of Al-Aziziya Steel Mills and Flagship Investment references till tomorrow.
Former premier Mian Nawaz Sharif, who is serving a 10-year jail term in the Avenfield Properties reference, was produced before the accountability court from Adiyala Jail in an armoured vehicle amid tight security.
On this occasion, entry of irrelevant individuals and even of media personnel was not allowed inside the Federal Judicial Complex. The security personnel also did not allow media persons for live coverage of the court’s hearing. Resultantly, the journalists staged a protest outside the judicial complex. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership and lawyers were also barred from entering the complex.
The court heard the two references after a long break. Counsel for Mian Nawaz Sharif, Khawaja Harris put forth a miscellaneous petition in the court, praying to the court to record the statement of JIT head Wajid Zia in Flagship Investment case. It was also contended in the petition that the defence did not aim at possible delay in proceedings of the references.
The defence counsel prayed to the court to adjourn the hearing after recording the statement of Wajid Zia, adding that he could not cross question the JIT head on Monday in Al-Aziziya reference due to his engagement in high court.
However, the court refused to record statement of Wajid Zia in the Flagship Investment case and adjourned the hearing till Wednesday (tomorrow).
Accountability court judge Muhammad Arshad resumed hearing into the references after the orders of Islamabad High Court on petition of Sharif family to shift corruption references against them to other court.
After Monday’s hearing, Mian Nawaz Sharif was shifted to Adiyala Jail in a security caravan.
Earlier, senior leader of the PML-N Dr Asif Kirmani said that during the hearing, even senior senators of the party were not allowed to enter the court. He added that this was open-trial and there should be no restrictions on any one to attend the proceedings of the trial court. Chief Justice should take notice of this ‘dual standard’ and ‘biased conduct’, he demanded.
Our reporter from Rawalpindi adds: The deposed premier was earlier taken to Islamabad from the Adiala Jail amid tight security. The jail administration had requested Islamabad police to make special security arrangements for the purpose. After hearing of the cases, the police and other law enforcement agencies escorted Mian Nawaz Sharif back to Adiala Jail.
Meanwhile, former MPA Ziaullah Shah and PML-N leader Rahat Masood Qadusi met former MNA Hanif Abbasi in the jail. Hanif Abbasi went ill in the jail and was admitted to the hospital after complaint of chest pain and pollen allergy. Both the leaders inquired after the health of Hanif Abbasi and assured full support to him. They also inquired about the status of his case in Lahore High court. They also discussed political situation in NA-60 by-polls with him.