AAMIR SAEED

ISLAMABAD: The Accoun-tability Court on Monday adjourned hearing of the Al-Azizia reference against ex-Premier Nawaz Sharif and his family members till Thursday.

At the outset of hearing, Sharif’s counsel Khawaja Haris filed an appeal for five-day exemption of his clients from the hearing; however, the court granted a three-day exemption. The next hearing of the case is scheduled for July 12.

Haris also presented the medical report of Kulsoom Nawaz. The counsel informed the court that his clients are in London to attend the ailing Kulsoom Nawaz.

Meanwhile, Haris also expressed objections over the Accountability Court Judge Mohammad Bashir, saying that he has already announced verdict against Sharif family in the Avenfield reference. Therefore, the judge should recuse himself from hearing the remaining two references against the Sharif family.

“You have already given a verdict in the Avenfield reference,” Haris said to Judge Bashir. “I request that you should recuse yourself from the bench hearing the Al-Azizia and Flagship references,” the counsel added.

The counsel suggested the judge to write a letter to the Supreme Court in this regard and then follow upon the directions of the apex court.

Haris said that he had already prayed to the court to announce a single verdict for all the three references, but it was not accepted and judgment of the Avenfield properties case has been announced.

The accountability court judge agreed to the counsel of Sharif, saying that he would consult Islamabad High Court (IHC) and Supreme Court on the matter.

The judge said that the stipulated time granted by the apex court to conclude all the three references is nearing the end.

The prosecution, lawyers from National Accountability Bureau, said they have no reservations over exclusion of the judge, provided the Accountability Court continues hearing into remaining two references.

The Supreme Court had earlier fixed July 9 as the final date for announcing verdicts for Flagship and Al-Azizia references against the Sharif family.

The court could only wrap up the Avenfield reference within the stipulated time and would now write to the Supreme Court again for more time to finalize the remaining two references – Flagship and Al-Azizia.

On July 6, the court awarded 10 years imprisonment to Nawaz and 7 years to Maryam along with hefty fines, while one year sentence was awarded to Capt Mohammad Safdar (retd).