By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) adjourned on Tuesday the hearing of appeals in Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. A division bench comprising Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani heard the case.
Over the course of the hearing, a Foreign Office official placed on record a compliance report informing the judges that the PML-N supremo didn’t show up before the court deliberately.
An execution report of his warrants through ads in print as well as electronic media was also submitted to the bench. It was informed that the warrants posted through Royal Mail were received at Sharif’s London residence. Besides, proclamation notices summoning the former prime minister were also put up outside his Lahore residence.
NAB prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi requested the court to record statements of the officials who forwarded and posted summons of the PML-N supreme leader to declare him a proclaimed offender. At this, the court ruled that it will record statements of the relevant officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Foreign Office at the next hearing and directed the agency to submit all relevant records. The court directed the additional attorney general to satisfy as to whether Nawaz has the right to engage a counsel to defend himself. The hearing was adjourned till December 2.
Earlier November 11 Shehbaz Sharif was Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza were indicted in money laundering reference by an accountability court (AC). Lahore Accountability Court Judge Jawad al Hassan presided over the hearing. However, both Shehbaz and Hamza, who were present in the courtroom, pleaded not guilty and recorded their stance over the charges which, they have been claiming, to be politically motivated.
The father-son duo were brought to the court in armoured vehicles under tight security. A large number of PML-N workers were present on the occasion to greet the incarcerated PML-N members. However, things took a sour turn when they tried to board the vehicle carrying Shehbaz, resulting in a scuffle between the supporters and police. On being indicted, the PML-N president said, “I am being subjected to political revenge.” “My political opponents are conspiring against me. False allegations have been levelled against me. I reject all the allegations of NAB,” he added.
About the treatment meted out to him in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail, the PML-N president said he had not been able to access a physiotherapist so far.
