SC gives three weeks to wrap up corruption references against Sharif

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has given three weeks to the accountability court to wrap up graft references against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, ARY News reported on Monday.

The apex court issued the order in response to a petition filed by the accountability court seeking another extension to wind up Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investment references against Nawaz Sharif.

The order was issued by the two-member SC bench headed by the chief justice.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar stated in his order that the Supreme Court would not grant further extension for completion of trial against the ex-PM.

Earlier in the day, Sharif, during hearing of the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference, told the accountability court that the report prepared by the joint investigation team was based on prejudice and lacked evidence.

Nawaz Sharif said he had also furnished his income tax returns, wealth investment details and other necessary documents before the joint investigation team.

The Supreme Court had given Nov 17 deadline to wrap up the cases, however, it was the sixth time the accountability court sought extension to wind up Al-Azizia Steel Mills case and Flagship Investment Reference. The apex court has now given another extension.

In the last hearing on Nov 15, Nawaz Sharif disassociated himself from the letters of Qatari Prince Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al-Thani’s, which the Sharif family had submitted as evidence during the proceedings of Panama case last year.

According to the charge sheet against the former premier in the Al-Azizia reference, Mr Sharif has been accused of owning assets which are disproportionate to his known sources of income. It says transactions have been carried out between Mr Sharif’s family members and their companies without any plausible explanation and consideration.