Court seeks second extension in trial period of Sharifs

ISLAMABAD: With the deadline set for deciding corruption references against ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and members of his family nearing the end, an accountability court hearing the cases has approached the Supreme Court seeking another extension in the deadline.

Judge Muhammad Bashir has written a letter to the apex court seeking more time to decide the cases against the Sharif family.

On Mary 8, 2018, the top court extended by two months the deadline set for the trial court to decide the cases against Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law retired Captain Safdar on a request of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The accountability judge during hearing of the Avenfield reference announced he would hand down his decision in all three references at the same time.

Khawaja Haris, the counsel for the former premier, said the apex court should extend the deadline for three more months.

Upon this, the judge said it is down to the top court how much time it gives for conclusion of trial.

Amjad Pervez, Maryam’s lawyer, said it is indispensible for a transparent trial to grant equal time to the defence and prosecution sides to present their case.

He said the prosecution took eight months to get its witnesses’ statement recorded.

It is pertinent to mention here that a five-judge bench of Supreme Court of Pakistan on July 28 last year announced a judgment in Panamagate case, disqualifying Nawaz Sharif as prime minister and ordered the NAB to file references against him and members of his family on the basis of the report of the Panama Joint Investigation Team (JIT).