Court Grants Four-day Exemption To Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz

The accountability court of Islamabad Tuesday granted four-day exemption from hearing to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz in graft references.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Jun, 2018 ) :The accountability court of Islamabad Tuesday granted four-day exemption from hearing to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz in graft references.

Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir conducted hearing of accused plea filed through their counsel seeking one-week exemption from hearing owing to illness of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.

During hearing, the petitioner's counsel contended before the court that Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were abroad to inquire after the health of ailing Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, who was under treatment in London.

He stated that Nawaz Sharif's wife was in critical situation and it was necessary for their clients to be with her at this stage.

He requested the court to grant seven-day exemption from hearing to Nawaz Sharif and his daughter.

After hearing the arguments, the court granted the exemption to the accused for only four days and adjourned hearing of the Avenfield case until tomorrow.

Meanwile, Khawaja Haris, the main defense counsel in the three corruption cases against Nawaz, resumed his role as lead counsel after he previously withdrew his services in the case.

As the hearing began, the judge asked Haris if he was in court to withdraw his request ending his power of attorney for Nawaz.

Haris stated that firstly he had to file another petition. He had the right to know whether the court would hear the three cases simultaneously or separately.

To this, the judge observed that Haris' request last week to withdraw the power of attorney was never accepted in the first place.

Haris also requested the prosecution to coordinate with each other and try their best to not pull each other's legs.

He said there was a law for everything, saying that under what law they were asked to work even on Saturday.

Barrister Jahangir Jadoon said that people were asking why the judgment of the case was not being announced.

Judge Bashir replied that court used to follow a legal procedure, saying that why the people were commenting on this case when they were not the respondents.

Haris then resumed presenting final arguments in the Avenfield case before the hearing was adjourned until tomorrow.