ISLAMABAD: A division bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday dismissed the petitions of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif through which he had been seeking joint framing of charges and joint trial in the two out of three corruption references pending against him at the accountability court (AC).
The IHC division bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani announced the judgment in a single sentence “the petitions are dismissed”. The bench reserved this judgment on November 23 and detailed judgment is likely to be issued today (Tuesday). Previously, the AC on October 19 had dismissed Nawaz Sharif's applications seeking joint charges and joint trial in three corruption references.
Meanwhile, an accountability court declared Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz proclaimed offenders due to their continuous non-appearance before the court. The court however would record statements of the prosecution witnesses against Hassan and Hussain under section 512 of the criminal procedure code (CrPC).
On Monday, the AC accepted Nawaz Sharif's exemption application from personal appearance before the court. The court granted exemption to Nawaz Sharif from December 5 till December 12. Maryam Nawaz was also granted exemption till December 15. She through her counsel Amjad Pervez advocate had been seeking exemption for 30 days, but the court granted exemption till December 15. Previously, the court had granted 30 days exemption to Maryam from November 15 till December 15 but Maryam did not avail this exemption and sought exemption from December 5 till January 5. The court however kept its previous order intact and said that exemption sought for is only allowed till December 15.
The AC also deferred its decision regarding Ishaq Dar to be declared as proclaimed offender. During Monday’s proceedings at the AC, a branch manager of Bank Alflah Malik Tayyab Moazzim recorded his statement. He has to exhibit 900 pages of documents. His statement was continuing when the AC adjourned this matter. Malik Tayyab produced original cheques and receipts pertaining to the five bank accounts of Nawaz Sharif. As per record produced by the witness, Nawaz Sharif between year 2013 till 2016 paid Maryam Nawaz 369.2 million rupees. Record of payments made to some other persons was also produced before the court.
At start of the proceedings in the morning, legal counsel for Nawaz Sharif Khawaja Haris told the court that the IHC judgment regarding clubbing of the references is awaited so the case may be put off. At this, the AC put off hearing till 1:00pm. The court then resumed its hearing and recorded statement of the witness.
Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Captain (R) Muhammad Safdar appeared before the court with workers and federal ministers of the PML-N. In the court, Nawaz Sharif kept directing the ministers about certain issues. Nawaz Sharif did not talk to the media and at his first appearance only said a single sentence. To a question regarding judgment reserved in the case of Imran Khan and Jehangir Tareen, Nawaz Sharif said that it seems he would be disqualified once again in the judgments regarding Imran Khan and Tareen.