ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz Thursday appointed Irfan Qadir as her new counsel in her appeal against her conviction in NAB reference while the Bureau also filed an application for daily hearing of the case.

The PML-N leader told this to a division bench of IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhter Kayani which conducted hearing in Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (R) Muhammad Safdar’s appeals in Avenfield Property reference.

In this matter, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed an application requesting the IHC to conduct day to day hearing in appeals of Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (R) Muhammad Safdar against their conviction in the reference. In the application filed to the court, the anti-graft watchdog adoptd that the accused was repeatedly using delaying tactics deliberately. It added that the appellant has tried its best to delay and stall the titled proceedings and hamper the smooth progress of the matter. The NAB argued that the NAO 1999 is a special law wherein Section 32 (b) gives 30 days time period for decision of appeals. Therefore, it prayed the court to conduct day to day hearing till its decision.

Earlier, at the outset of hearing, PML-N leader Atta Tarar Advocate informed the bench that Maryam Nawaz had hired Irfan Qadir as her new counsel and requested the court to grant one month time to the new lawyer for preparing a petition on behalf of Maryam Nawaz. Tarar stated that there was no delay from their side and added that Amjad Pervaiz, the previous counsel, was unable to attend proceedings due to his illness. At this, Justice Aamer Farooq expressed his concern on the request and said that it was giving the impression that you were using delaying tactics. He added that Irfan Qadir should have appeared himself to get time. NAB prosecutor objected that Amjad Pervez had not taken back power of attorney yet while the new counsel of the accused was also not appearing.

Later, the IHC bench deferred the hearing of the case till October 6 and directed the appellants to present their new counsel on the next date of hearing. Talking to the media after attending the hearing, the PML-N Vice President termed government’s proposal to use EVMs a plot for rigging next general elections. She claimed that government which came into power through rigging could never be interested in transparent elections.

She maintained that use of EVMs was a new method to rig election. She said that government wanted to exclude role of opposition.

Maryam also said that at present, people are witnessing the worst form of inflation in addition to other problems. Therefore, the PML-N is raising its voice for the sake of people instead of staying silent.