SC gives 6 more weeks to graft court

islamabad — The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted another sixweek extension to the accountability court to wrap up corruption references against ousted primer Nawaz Sharif and his famiy in Al Azizia and Flagship references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

A two-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, heard the application moved by Accountability Court Judge Mohammed Bashir seeking extension in the trial.

During the course of proceedings, Sharif family lawyer Khawaja Haris argued that the Avenfield judgment will have an impact on other references, and requested the top court to transfer the case to another accountability judge. He pleaded that all the references were similar in nature and had almost same witnesses so the

It is being said repeatedly that the court is doing injustice. What sort of service is being done by such conversation?” MIan Saqib Nisar, chief justice

case should be transferred to another court for fair trial.

The chief justice remarked that cases will be decided on merit so the request of the counsel could not be entertained at this time while Justice Ejazul Ahsan observed that the references were not similar.

Justice Ahsan also wondered how a judge who recorded statements of all the witnesses can be changed at this stage. “Will your relation with me improve now,” the chief justice quipped, addressing Haris. He added that NAB had asked for four weeks but the court is giving six weeks as Mr Haris requested”.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar remarked, “It is being said repeatedly that the court is doing injustice. What sort of service is being done by such conversation?” The Supreme Court cannot even think of being unfair, he added. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed three references against the Sharif family last year after the Panama Papers case verdict against Sharif.

One corruption reference was filed against former finance minister Ishaq Dar. The SC ordered accountability court to conclude all the said references within six weeks. — APP