References against Sharifs: Two more witnesses record statements

ISLAMABAD: The Accountability Court (AC) of Islamabad recorded the statements of the two prosecution witnesses.

It is to mention here that the trial court proceedings in three corruption references Flagship, Al-Azizia and Avenfield apartments against Sharif family are near completion. Head of NAB prosecution team Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi told this correspondent that the prosecution had almost done its 80 percent work. Only two prosecution witnesses each left in Flagship and Avenfield apartments corruption references those included the JIT head Wajid Zia and investigation officers of the two said cases. In Al-Azizia reference only five prosecution witnesses remained out of which three would be recording their statements next date of hearing on January 23.

The statement of one Afaq Ahmed, Director SSP in the office of Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs could not be recorded due to unavailability of certified documents pertaining to him. The document pertaining to Afaq Ahmed were in the custody of Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed to probe panama case. Later, JIT handed over these documents to Supreme Court. Afaq Ahmed on May 30, 2017 received a sealed envelope from Pakistan’s Embassy in Doha that was for JIT head Wajid Zia. The sealed envelope was sent by Hammad bin Jasim, the Qatari prince. Afaq Ahmed handed that envelope to Wajid Zia and also recorded his statement before the JIT. Last hearing on December 19, when Afaq Ahmed came to record his statement in Flagship corruption reference, legal counsel for Nawaz Sharif, Khawaja Haris Ahmed had raised objections that the statement could not be recorded in the absence of either original documents or photocopies whom court endorses as certified to be true.

NAB prosecutors had then said that they applied for the original record of JIT to Supreme Court but they did not receive the record yet.

During today’s hearing, the statement of Afaq Ahmed once again could not get recorded due to the same issue and then AC said that it would write a request letter to the registrar Supreme Court of Pakistan asking him to provide either original or certified copies of the JIT’s record.

At start of proceeding, NAB Additional Director Nasir Junejo recorded his statement as prosecution witness in Al-Azizia corruption reference. He told the court that he was there when record of Chaudhry Sugar Mills was submitted and seizure memo was prepared. Another prosecution witness Umar Draz Gondal, Lahore NAB Sub-Inspector recorded his statement in Al-Azizia and Avenfield corruption references. He was the one who served call up notices at Jati Umra issued in the name of Nawaz Sharif and his sons. Gondal said that he delivered these notices to Shamim Farm Jati Umra security in charge Malik Arif and obtained his signatures on the receipt. After that his statement was recorded by a NAB investigation officer. Khawaja Haris during cross-examination pointed out lapses in the statement of Gondal and said that the receipt produced by Gondal did not reveal in what case these notices were served. Next hearing in this matter will be on January 23.