The Accountability Court has given a four-day exemption from appearance before the court to former primer minister Nawaz Sharif and to his daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
Earlier, the counsels of Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, submitted exemption requests for seven days on Tuesday.
The former premier and his daughter, who are in London with ailing Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, have sought a seven-day exemption from appearing before an accountability court in Islamabad.
The request was filed as accountability court judge Justice Muhammad Bashir started hearing the references — Avenfield properties, Al-Azizia and Flagship Investment — against the Sharif family.
During the hearing, Nawaz’s former counsel Khawaja Harris appeared before the court.
Justice Bashir questioned Harris if he was in court to withdraw his power of attorney petition.
“First, I have to file another petition. I have a right to know whether the court will hear the cases simultaneously or separately,” the former premier’s counsel responded.
To this, the accountability court judge said Harris’ power of attorney petition has been dismissed.
However, NAB prosecutor Muzaffar Abbasi pointed out, “We did not even object and the petition has been dismissed.”
Harris said, "We need to coordinate with each other and should try our best to not pull each other's legs," he added.
Nawaz lformer lawyer asked, "There is a law for everything. The Supreme Court asked us to work on Saturdays as well and under what law does that fall?"
Moreover, Nawaz's newly-appointed counsel Jahangir Jadoon told court, "People are asking why the court is not announcing a judgment."
To this, Justice Bashir responded, "The court follows a procedure and on my behalf tell those people that why are they commenting when they are not respondents."
The court has summoned Panamagate Joint Investigation Team (JIT) head and prosecution's star witness Wajid Zia today in regards to the Al-Azizia reference.
Furthermore, Maryam Nawaz's lawyer, Amjad Pervaiz, has also been summoned to present his final arguments.
