Nawaz appears before court amid tight security

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was produced before an accountability court in the federal capital as it resumed the hearing of Al-Azizia and Flagship references on Monday.

Sharif was transported to the court from Adiala jail amid tight security as his security convoy comprised of 10 vehicles, including an ambulance and vehicle carrying jammers.

AC-II Judge Malik Arshad presided over the trial proceedings.

At the outset, Khawaja Haris, who represented the former premier, pointed out that the statement of a NAB investigation officer , Mehbob Alam, was not recorded in his presence.

He requested the court to decide the two references together.

The hearing of the case was adjourned till August 27.

On Aug 7, a two-member bench of the Islamabad High Court, comprising of Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb, allowed transfer of the Al-Azizia and Flagship Investment references to another accountability court.

The deposed premier’s counsel had filed a petition requesting the court to transfer both the references from the accountability court of Judge Muhammad Bashir to another accountability court.

Nawaz Sharif was arrested on July 13 along with his daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif when the duo returned to the country from London. The arrest was in compliance with July 6 court order, convicting them in the Avenfield properties reference.