Court indicts Nawaz Sharif in another corruption case

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Friday indicted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in another reference pertaining to Flagship Investments and other offshore companies.

Sharif and his sons – Hussain and Hassan – have been named in three  NAB references, while Maryam and her husband have been nominated only in a reference related to the family’s London flats.

Judge Muhammad Bashir read out charge-sheet against Sharif in presence of his pleader, Zafir Khan, who subsequently pleaded not guilty.

Charge-sheet 

As per the charge-sheet, Nawaz Sharif had served on important posts, including those of Punjab Chief Minister and Prime Minister. Hassan and Hussain were his dependents in 1989 and 1990 and Hassan, who used to look after the assets of his father, submitted a record of the assets from 1990-1995, it added.

The former prime minister remained the chairman of Capital FZE from 2007 till 2014. He told a joint investigation team (JIT), tasked to conduct an investigation into the Panama Papers, that he was a shareholder in fifteen companies.

Sharif, Maryam and Safdar’s indictment in London properties case

A day earlier, the accountability court had indicted former prime minister in the Avenfield flats and Al-Azizia Company references through his pleader. The charges against his daughter Maryam Nawaz and retired Captain Muhammad Safdar were also framed in their presence.

The Sharif family denied all charges and opted to contest them. After the judge read out charges against Sharif, his pleader read out his statement, denying all charges. Likewise, Maryam and her spouse pleaded not guilty with the former saying, “I wish to declare that I refuse to accept the charge sheet.”

The court adjourned the hearing of the two references till Oct 26 when it will began recording the statements of prosecution witnesses.

Former PM Sharif, who is currently in London in connection with treatment of his ailing wife Kulsoom Nawaz, skipping the graft proceedings today.

Three references have been filed against the Sharif family members by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in compliance with the Supreme Court’s landmark July 28 verdict.