Ousted PM, Maryam get almost no relief from AC

ISLAMABAD: Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam have so far got little or no relief even on minor pleas from the accountability court (AC) of the federal capital since it started their trial in three references in September last.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed these cases on the Supreme Court direction contained in the July 28 judgment in the Panama case, which set a time-frame of six months for the trial court to decide them.

On the other hand, Nawaz Sharif, Maryam and Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar have made it a point to regularly attend the judicial process, giving up their political engagements. They have not skipped even a single hearing, citing any reason, despite their pronounced reservations and objections to the one-sided ‘accountability’. Until now, the court has held a total of 19 hearings.

Additionally, the accused and their lawyer Khawaja Haris have made not even a slight attempt to delay or drag the proceedings. They have been following the fast track set by accountability court judge Muhammad Bashir.

Khawaja Haris said in the Supreme Court on Thursday when he appeared before a bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar that he had not sought even one adjournment in the accountability court. There are three recent instances of rejection of the requests made by Nawaz Sharif and Maryam to the accountability court.

Once they sought the merger of three references on the ground that they mostly have the same witnesses and similar pack of allegations, the judge dismissed the plea. Then, they challenged the recording of testimony of two witnesses -- a close relative of the Panama Joint Investigation Team (JIT) head Wajid Zia and a foreigner -- via video link from London. The accountability court rejected it.

The third request was made on Thursday for two-week exemption from appearance in the court as Nawaz Sharif, Maryam and Safdar wanted to go to London to look after ailing Begum Kulsoom. It was also dismissed.

Their lawyer argued before Judge Muhammad Bashir that since Begum Kulsoom was to undergo further tests to decide her future treatment in the light of the doctors’ recommendation, the accused wanted to be with her.

However, while opposing their applications, the NAB prosecutor pleaded that the exemption should not be granted because the hearings on the references were about to conclude and that his organisation has already requested the Interior Ministry to place their names on the Exit Control List (ECL). He also pointed out that Hussain and Hassan had not joined the present proceedings as they had not come back from Britain despite notices.

A quick question that naturally sprang to many minds in view of the prosecutor’s arguments and the contents of the NAB’s letter to the Interior Ministry is how come they are sure hundred percent that come what may Nawaz Sharif, Maryam and Safdar would be convicted by the accountability court, and, therefore, their departure from Pakistan should be blocked. The NAB communication also stated that the placing of the names of the accused on the ECL was required as the trial of the references was about to end.

Only once in December last, Nawaz Sharif’s request for exemption from appearance was accepted by the accountability court as he wanted to go to Britain. The court, however, rejected any change in the exemption granted to Maryam.

Since the opening of the present proceedings in the accountability court, Nawaz Sharif has flown to London at least thrice in connection with the treatment of Belgum Kulsoom. Every time sponsored disinformation was forcefully disseminated that he will not return. But he came back and joined his trial. Neither previously he had any plan to stay away from Pakistan nor has he now.

“Running away from the country by @MaryamNSharif and Nawaz Sharif when popular tide is on their side is plain stupid. Putting their names on ECL or sending them to jail will only make them invincible -- those who do not read writings on the wall,” said a tweet by a leading TV anchor.

He thus voiced the universal view, prevailing among analysts and commentators that Nawaz Sharif doesn’t want to run away from the judicial process or the ultimate dire consequences as, he has stated, he has burnt his boats to uphold his cause to ensure sanctity of vote.