ISLAMABAD - Accountability Court on Monday granted three-day exemption from attendance of former premier Nawaz Sharif in Al-Azizia corruption reference.
The hearing of Al-Azizia reference resumed on Monday against Nawaz. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB)’s prosecutor opposed the court’s approval for exemption of Sharif from attendance, stating that in accordance with the law, exemption from attendance could not be awarded on pretext of agony and distress by the convict.
Counsel for Nawaz, Khawaja Harris filed petition to allow exemption from court’s attendance to Sharif for five days. It was contended in the petition that former PM had been in a state of severe agony and anguish after death of his wife Begum Kalsoom Nawaz, therefore, the court should allow him 5 days exemption from personal appearance.Opposing the petition, the NAB prosecutor stated that as per law, the convicted culprits could not be allowed exemption from attendance on grounds of sympathy.
However, the court allowed three-day exemption for Sharif from court’s attendance and instructed the defence counsel to continue his cross questioning of NAB’s key witness Wajid Zia. Khawaja Harris raised queries regarding details of bank accounts as mentioned in Volume-6 of Panama JIT report. Wajid replied that bank statement of Nawaz's Standard Chartered Bank, Wapda Town, Lahore was stamped with Islamabad Branch, adding that the respective bank statement was not signed by any official of the said bank. Wajid also informed the court that bank statement as provided by Maryam Nawaz was not either stamped nor signed by any official of the concerned banks.
Responding to queries regarding sale agreement of Al-Azizia Steel Mills, Wajid Zia stated that for Al-Aziziya Steel Mills, Saudi Investment Development Fund approved a loan of 103 million Saudi Riyals, however; any installment was not deposited to payout bank loan till sale of the mill in 2005. Wajid further told the court that an amendment agreement was also signed after March 20, 2005 regarding sale of Al-Azizia Steel Mills.
On this occasion, Deputy Prosecutor General NAB stated that as questions were being asked by the defence counsel about documents, so permission should be given to bring all documents on record. He said that either questions should not be raised about source documents or permission should be granted to bring these documents on record. On this, the court allowed to bring sale agreement as well as loan agreement document of Al-Azizia Steel Mills on record.
On this, photocopies of concerned documents regarding Al-Azizia Steel Mills were made part of the court’s record.
During cross questioning, Wajid told the court that Hussain Nawaz had signed amendment agreement on behalf of Al-Azizia Steel Mills. On which, Judge Accountability Court Arshad Malik remarked that now you must identify signs of Hussain Nawaz. On this, Wajid Zia said that he had no relevant experience, however; he could judge signs of Hussain Nawaz.
Wajid also informed the court that statement as given by Nawaz before JIT was based on hearsay without substantial facts. Nawaz while recording his statement before NAB’s Court stated that in his opinion, there were three shareholders of Al-Azizia Steel Mills, said Wajid Zia, adding that Nawaz also gave information about status of profits in the same fashion. Later, Judge Accountability Court Arshad Malik adjourned hearing in Al-Azizia Reference till today, with instructions for the defence counsel to keep continued his cross questioning with Panama JIT team Head Wajid.