Haris refrains to cross-examine Wajid Zia in absence of trial judge

ISLAMABAD: Defense counsel Khawaja Haris refrained from cross examining Joint Investigation Team (JIT) head Wajiz Zia in Al-Azizia case against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family members, on Wednesday, citing the absence of accountability court’s judge Muhammad Bashir from the hearing today.

Judge Malik Arshad was hearing the case in place of judge Muhammad Bashir who is on leave to write the decision in Avenfield reference-another graft case against Sharifs.

At the outset of the case hearing, Khawaja Haris, the counsel of former premier Nawaz Sharif, said that he wanted to continue cross-examination of the witness in the presence of judge Muhammed Bashir.

Nawaz’s

counsel highlighted that the “decision on another [Avenfield Reference] case is about to be announced by the court, thus situation may get affected,” he explained as the reason of avoiding cross-examination of the JIT head- key witness of the prosecution in NAB reference.

To which, Judge Malik Arshad remarked that he has no objections over the counsel’s request and later adjourned the hearing until July 9.

The Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference, pertaining to the Sharif family’s company, is among three references against the Sharif family filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) last year on the orders of the Supreme Court in its Panama Papers case verdict.