The Accountability Court has given three-day exemption to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz from appearing before the court.

Khawaja Harris requested a seven-day exemption from the court but the Judge Muhammad Bashir exempted them for three days.       

The Accountability Court heard the Avenfield reference against the Sharif family today.

Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir was hearing the case. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's lawyer, Khawaja Harris is presenting arguments for the fifth consecutive day. 

When the hearing went under way, Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir observed that none of the accused were in court. 

Khawaja Harris told the court that Captain (retired) Safdar would appear in court shortly.

He further informed that Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam were both abroad. A request in that regard will be filed after Begum Kulsoom Nawaz's June 22 medical report is printed, said Harris.    

Captain (retd) Safdar then arrived in the courtroom. 

Harris presented his arguments, stating that he would respond to the second part of the statement of NAB's star witness Wajid Zia. 

Nawaz's lawyer contended that the report prepared by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) constituted to probe the Panama Papers case was unacceptable as evidence in the Avenfield case. 

Khawaja Harris argued that a summary of documents not presented by his Nawaz Sharif could not be used against him. Harris said that the investigation officer's opinion could not be considered as acceptable evidence. 

Discussing the letters sent to the JIT by the Qatari prince in response to the former's queries, Nawaz's lawyer asserted that the letters had nothing to with his client. He further stated that the JIT had mentioned contradictions in the two letters.

He said, "It was the court, not JIT's job to discuss the contradictions."  

Harris further argued that the Wajid Zia was under influence because of giving his opinion.

Harris argued, "Wajid Zia could have presented the letters, but he should not have commented on them," adding that Nawaz was mentioned in one page 28 of the JIT head's statement.  

Khawaja Harris further said that Zia had stated that Nawaz, Maryam, Hussain, and Tariq Shafi [Nawaz's cousin] had not submitted any documents regarding the payment of the property. 

"Nawaz was indicted because of the JIT," said Harris. 

"Zia said that [the JIT] had examined the evidence, but was it the JIT's job to do so? Or is it the court which is responsible for examining the evidence?", said Nawaz's lawyer. 

The Avenfield reference, related to London properties of Sharif family, is among those three references filed last year against the former prime minister and his family by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) following Supreme Court's ruling in the Panama Papers case.

During the last hearing on June 23, Khawaja Harris reiterated his arguments saying that his Nawaz was neither the beneficial owner of the London apartments nor had anything to do with the properties.