Graft court given a month to decide Sharif’s cases

islamabad — The Supreme Court has extended the deadline given to an accountability court for the completion of trial in corruption references against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and sonin-law.

A two-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, has also allowed Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz to visit his ailing wife Kulsoom Nawaz in London, reports DawnNews. Taking up an application moved by Judge Mohammed Bashir of the accountability court, the court granted one-month extension to the trial court.

The previous deadline given to the court for concluding the trial expired on June 9.

Appearing on behalf of Sharif, advocate Khwaja Harris said that at least six more weeks were required to complete the proceedings.

In March, the Supreme Court had granted a two-month extension to the accountability court to conclude the proceedings, Dawn reported.

However, the trial court failed to complete its proceedings within the given timeframe. Finally, the apex court gave a one-month extension to the trial court enabling it to complete the proceedings by June 9.

At the outset of hearing, Sharif’s counsel Khawaja Harris sought six weeks time for trial completion. However, the bench declined the request saying that the matter should be decided now.

The chief justice also observed that Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz could also proceed to London to inquire after Begum Kalsoom Nawaz, if they wanted so. They had been claiming that they were not being allowed to go to London to enquire about the welfare of ailing Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, he added.

The chief justice observed that “We would allow them (Sharifs) even if a verbal request was made by the counsel.”

A deputy prosecutor general, National Accountability Bureau, also appeared before the bench. The references were filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in view of the Supreme Court’s July 28, 2017 judgment in the Panama Papers case. — IANS, APP