ISLAMABAD - Terming judicial reforms need of the hour and in the best interest of the country, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif announced to make judicial reforms part of party’s manifesto for the upcoming general elections.

Talking to media after appearing before the National Accountability Court Islamabad on Friday, the former premier further elaborated his restoration of justice (Nizam-i-Adl) and sanctity of vote campaign by announcing to make judicial reforms part of manifesto of his party for the upcoming general elections. He further said that under normal circumstances many things did not figure up prominently but in time of trial one sees the flaws and lacunae in the system.

Nawaz added that room for improvement and reforms was always there.

To a question, the former premier said that they had not hired the services of any international firm for materialisation of his judicial reforms agenda.

He said that they had a lot of expertise to jot it down, as quick and cheap dispensation of justice was everyone’s demand.

Once again coming down hard on both, --- the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Nawaz said that the politics of the both the parties were based on “deceit” as they were “habitual in betraying and cheating” the people of Pakistan.

“All what they want and [and are] trying is to come into power through the backdoor,” he said. The people of Pakistan have rejected this type of politics and that was the reason their popularity was going down sharply.

Nawaz said that now they were addressing gatherings of just couple of hundred people.

He once again raised many questions about the recently held elections of chairman and deputy chairman Senate.

Nawaz said that a person with the backing of six independent senators from Balochistan came from out of nowhere and managed to clinch the top slot in the Upper House. “Who is Sanjrani!” Nawaz questioned, adding that how did he become chairman Senate and how he managed to woo the support of the parties having much more strength in the Upper House.  The former prime minister said that the people of Pakistan knew who was behind him.

Nawaz expressed his commitment towards playing an active role towards holding of the upcoming general elections in a free and transparent fashion.

Meanwhile, head of the Joint Investigation Team Wajid Zia on Friday presented original letter of Qatri Prince Hammad bin Jasim and a number of other documents, including the agreement between Al-Toufiq and Hudiyabia Papers Mills before the court. Zia also recorded his statement before the Accountability Court Islamabad. He was on his feet when the court rose for the day to meet again on March 21 to complete his statement. When the court took up Avenfield Properties Reference against Nawaz Sharif and his other family members, former prime minister, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Capt.(Retd) Safdar were also present.

When Wajid Zia presented his correspondence and the sealed letter of Qatri Prince Hammad bin Jasim before the court, the defence counsel objected to it and said that he(Zia) had already presented another such letter before the court. The JIT head explained that the copy of letter he had submitted the other day was the fax copy he had received from the Foreign Office and the letter he has submitted now was taken from the Supreme Court’s record. Defence Counsel Kh. Haris got this point noted.

Defence counsel representing Maryam Nawaz once again objected when Wajid Zia presented the agreement between Al-Toufiq and Hudaiybia Papers Mills, saying that it did not fall fit on the Qanoon-i-Shahadat. Wajid Zia said that he had secured the agreement from National Accountability Bureau.

Wajid Zia also presented the report prepared by the director of Hudaybia Papers Mills and defence counsel once again raised objections on it and said that the report was copied from a photocopy of the report which was also not attested.

Wajid Zia also presented the land registry of the Niscoll and Nelson companies regarding the London flats and the same was made part of the court record on the direction of judge Mohammad Bashir.

The record relating to Comber Company was also presented before the court which was also challenged by the defence counsel representing Maryam Nawaz terming these documents irrelevant.

JIT head Wajid Zia’s statement was yet to complete when the court rose for the day to meet again on March 21 when he(Zia) would likely complete recording his statement in the Avenfield Properties Reference.

JIT REPORT BASED ON LIES,

SAYS MARRIYUM

INP adds: State Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Friday that JIT report is based on lies as no evidence has been found yet.

Talking to media outside Accountability Court, Marriyum maintained that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified over unorganised evidences and Iqamah.

She said that Nawaz Sharif talks of sanctity of vote whereas the judges of Accountability Court are also trying to do the same. “The arrangement of Wajid Zia’s record is not correct. When it was presented before the court, the judge had asked to rectify the arrangement. Following this, Wajid Zia fell ill. All the proofs against Nawaz Sharif like this. This is a great misfortune and point to ponder,” said the Information Minister.