Sharif’s counsel argues for new judge to hear remaining corruption references

Nawaz Sharif’s counsel argues the remaining two references against Sharif to be transferred to another accountability court. (REUTERS/photo)

• Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was convicted on July 6 in Avenfield case while the other two references against him — Al-Azizia Steel Mill and Flagship Investment Limited — are pending judgment
• Sharif’s counsel, Khawaja Haris asked the court to move the remaining corruption references to another accountability court for fair hearing since the incumbent judge has already convicted Sharif in one case

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s counsel, Khawaja Haris concluded his arguments on Thursday in the hearing of the petition requesting the remaining two references against Sharif to be transferred to another accountability court.
Haris argued that for an impartial and fair trial, a new judge should be assigned to hear the remaining two corruption cases – Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investment Limited – against his client.
He argued that the incumbent judge hearing the case has already convicted Sharif in the Avenfield case and in order to ensure a fair hearing he should not decide the other two cases.
On July 6, an accountability court, presided over by Justice Mohammad Bashir, sentenced Nawaz to 11 years in prison with a fine of £8 million (1.3 billion rupees). His daughter Maryam Nawaz was sentenced to eight years with a £2 million fine (335 million rupees), while his son-in-law Captain (Retd.) Safdar Awan was given a one-year sentence.
Sharif and family members have also filed petitions in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against their convictions in the Avenfield case.
Presenting his arguments, Haris said that Sharif has nothing to do with any properties mentioned in the corruption references, adding that his children were their grandfather’s dependents, and not legally dependent on Nawaz Sharif.
During a hearing that took place earlier on Tuesday, Haris argued that while the investigation officers in all three references are different, the witnesses and their defense is common.
The court on Thursday directed Haris to present the similarities between the three references, including common witnesses and defense, in chart form.
Explaining the similarities, Haris contended that Sharif’s speech in Parliament and his subsequent address to the nation is a common piece of evidence in all three cases.
Similarly, he added that the sources of income chart in the Joint Investigation Team’s (JIT) report and television interviews given by Sharif’s sons, Hasan and Hussain Nawaz, are also common pieces of evidence in the three cases.
The hearing has been adjourned until Monday.