Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif appointed new legal counsel, Jahangir Jadoon, after the withdrawal of his former lawyer, Khawaja Harris.

The new lawyer will represent him in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) references against him. 

Today, Jahangir Jadoon appeared before the accountability court, during the hearing of the Avenfield reference, and submitted the power of attorney on behalf of his client. 

Whereas, Maryam Nawaz's lawyer, Amjad Pervaiz, didn't appear before the court. 

Judge Muhammad Bashir then ordered Pervaiz  to present hi final arguments till June 19. The court then adjourned the hearing.  

Earlier, former premier Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam were given an exemption from appearing in court today. 

Khawaja Harris' recusal

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif 's legal counsel Khawaja Harris on Monday (June 11) excused himself from representing the former prime minister in the corruption references filed by NAB against the Sharif family. 

While announcing his decision to withdraw his legal services to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif , Harris said that Supreme Court had 'dictated' for completing the trial within a month. 

"As a professional lawyer, I think the arguments for all of the three references [against Nawaz and his family] could be presented together," Harris said, in a letter to the apex court, that the Supreme Court had not accepted his perspective on the three references. 

On June 4, Harris requested the accountability court to jointly hear arguments for all three references against the Sharif family. He had said, "Sixty per cent of the arguments are the same in the three references." 

Furthermore, Nawaz's legal counsel wrote in the letter that he was ordered to work beyond court hours by the Supreme Court. He showed his unwillingness to work on Saturdays and Sundays [weekends].   

The former lawyer of Nawaz said he could not continue to work in the present conditions. 

After his withdrawal from representing Sharif family in the court, accountability court Judge, Muhammad Bashir asked Nawaz if he would hire a new lawyer or convince Harris to represent him.   

Responding to the question, Nawaz Sharif requested the court to adjourn the hearing for a few days for consultations over matter of his legal representation.  

The hearing then adjourned for till tomorrow, June 12. The Avenfield reference hearing will also be held onthe same day. 

Harris decided to withdraw after representing Sharif family for almost nine months in the corruption references against them.