SC extends deadline in Sharif graft cases

Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Friday extended deadline for completion of trial in National Accountability Bureau ( NAB) cases against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Earlier, the accountability court judge, Mohammad Arshad Malik, wrote a letter to the top court and requested for extension.

The time period to complete the cases has been extended for the seventh time.

On October 12, SC had granted accountability court an extension in deadline to conclude trials in Al- Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investments references against Sharif family till November 17.

The cases against Nawaz family stemmed from the Panama Papers leak that disclosed expensive and undeclared property allegedly owned by them in London.

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Mohammed Safdar were convicted and sentenced to prison for ten years, seven years and one year respectively in Avenfield verdict.

However, the convictions were suspended by Islamabad high court and they were released from Adiala jail till final decision. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday directed Foreign Ministry to prepare reply to United States President Donald Trump’s letter.

Officials said Pakistan will assure to help US in Afghan reconciliation process while it will also give suggestion to resume Pak- US strategic talks.

Earlier, Donald Trump wrote a letter to PM Imran Khan asking for help in resolving the Afghanistan issue. US has realized that peace cannot be attained in Afghanistan without Pakistan’s help, said the premier.

Officially allies in fighting terrorism, Pakistan and the United States have an complicated relationship, bound by Washington’s dependence on Pakistan to supply its troops in Afghanistan but plagued by accusations Islamabad is playing a double game.

Last month, Mr Trump said in an interview Pakistan doesn’t “do a damn thing” for the United States despite billions of dollars in US aid, adding that Pakistani officials knew of former Al- Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden’s location before his killing by US troops in a 2011 raid inside Pakistan.

Mr Khan hit back by saying the United States should not blame Pakistan for its failings in Afghanistan.

Last week, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said he had formed a 12strong team to negotiate peace with the Taliban.