NAB witness testifies against Sharifs in Avenfield supplementary reference
- By Web Desk -
- Feb 07, 2018
ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) witness Abdul Wahid recorded his statement before the accountability court here on Wednesday in a supplementary reference filed against the Sharif family members with regard to their London-based Avenfield properties.
The prosecution witness, who is a director general at Directorate of Electronic Media and Publications (DEMP), provided CDs containing the interviews of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s son Hussain Nawaz.
He informed Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir that he had previously provided the anti-graft body with the CDs containing Sharif’s address to nation and speech at parliament.
At outset of the proceedings, Sharif’s lead counsel Khawaja Harris argued that the three CDs provided by the prosecution were damaged as an error of insupportable format prompted.
Later, the CDs were played at the courtroom.
“The player is supporting the videos’ format and CDs are absolutely fine,” quipped Deputy Prosecution General NAB Sardar Muzaffar Abbas.
Sharif’s counsel Khawaja Harris cross-examined the NAB witness.
Earlier today, ousted premier Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Mohammad Safdar appeared before the court.
The hearing was adjourned till February 13.
Court to record UK-based prosecution witnesses via video link
At the hearing on Friday, the accountability court approved a plea filed by the NAB to record statements of two UK-based prosecution witnesses via video link.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz didn’t show up to the court. However, Sharif’s son-in-law Mohammad Safdar appeared before the court.
During the court proceedings, NAB prosecutor Sardar Mazhar Abbasi submitted an application requesting the court to document statements of two foreign witnesses via video link.
Avenfield supplementary reference
According to the reference filed by NAB, Sharif is the actual owner of the London properties, which he had bought in the name of his children.
It alleges Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz and son Hussain Nawaz provided fake documents to a joint investigation team appointed to probe the ruling family’s wealth with regard to the flats in a pricey London neighbhourhood.
The reference states that the Sharifs failed to provide the money trail behind the purchase of the Avenfield flats and the Trust Deed between Maryam and Hussain presented to the JIT found to be fake.
Naming Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, sons – Hussain and Hasan – and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar as accused in the reference, it maintains they have committed corruption, which is punishable act under Section 10 of the National Accountability Ordinance.
It further says that an investigation against, Tariq Shafi, former premier’s cousin, Saeed Ahmed, President National Bank of Pakistan, Javed Kayani and Mosa Ghani was also underway.
The supplementary reference included seven witnesses, including expert of the Radley Forensic Document Laboratory in London, Robert W. Radley and solicitor.
TV interviews of the former premier, Maryam, Hasan and Hussain have also been made a part of the evidence.