Nawaz accuses courts of 'double standard’ as corruption trial begins

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday vowed to take struggle against what he said double standard of courts to logical end as he appeared before an accountability court which is hearing corruption cases against him.

According to Geo News, the former prime minister criticized the courts when a journalist asked him to comment on relief Imran Khan got in cases against him. "We are waging a struggle  against courts' double standards, and would take this struggle to a logical end," said he.

He said the court's decision against him contained remarks that are often given by his opponents. He said the court ruling also carried a message that seemed to suggest "Nawaz Sharif be punished at any cost".

Maryam Nawaz and Captain (retd) Safdar, who have been indicted in corruption references, were also present in the courtroom.

Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz filed an application seeking exemption from hearing to visit Begum Kulsoom Nawaz in London where the wife of former prime minister is undergoing treatment for cancer.

Later, the court granted a week and a month log exemption from proceedings to Nawaz Sharif and his daughter respectively. 

Nawaz and his family is facing corruption charges filed against them by the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) in the wake of Supreme Court orders in Panama Papers case.

The court also declared Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz, sons of the former prime minister, absconders during today’s hearing as they have not appeared in the court even after being repeatedly summoned.

Deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif has been indicted in all three corruption references regarding Avenfield properties, Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investment, while Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (r) Safdar were indicted in reference regarding Avenfield properties alone.

It was the 12th hearing of Avenfield properties and Azizia Steel Mills references and 13th hearing of the Flagship Investment reference.

Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif appeared before accountability court on five occasions while Maryam Nawaz and Captain (r) Safdar  seven times.

The accountability court had also summoned two prosecution witnesses Sidra Mansoor of Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and Jahangir Ahmad of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to appear in the court to record their statements.