Nawaz Sharif Answers To 55 Court Questions In Avenfield Property Reference

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st May, 2018 ) :Former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Monday recorded statement to 55 questions, out of a list of total 127 in the Avenfield properties reference before the accountability court.

Accountability court judge Muhammad Bashir conducted hearing of the Avenfield property reference against Sharif family members, filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB). As the hearing commenced, the court initiated testimony of Nawaz Sharif against the questionnaire earlier provided to the counsels for the accused.

Nawaz Sharif claimed that the prosecution side had badly failed to prove its stance and couldn't present evidence to prove his link with London flats. He said neither he has been the real or beneficial owner of this property, nor he ever provided money to purchase it.

He said that his father has been bearing the whole expenditures of the Sharif family in his life. In response to a question, he said the documents were sent to Robert Redley and then the report was apparently prepared in haste.

Robert Redley was seemingly interested to get his statement recorded, he added. He said the statement of Robert Redley, regarding Calibri font was based on dishonesty.

During cross examining, Redley had admitted that this font was available in 2005 and they downloaded it, he added.

The former prime minister said he has several reservations over the members of Joint Investigation Team (JIT) who conducted investigation of Panama papers in compliance of Supreme Court orders. Nawaz Sharif said that the Joint Investigation Team's investigation is one-sided.

He said this report couldn't be presented as evidence before the court as it was just investigation findings. He said JIT member Bilal Rasool was the nephew of former Governor Punjab Mian Azhar, adding Bilal has criticised the government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in the past and his wife was a supporter of PTI.

He further said the representation of sensitive state institutions in the JIT was not appropriate. Talking about JIT head Wajid Zia, Nawaz Sharif said a controversy was stirred after Zia hired the services of his cousin's British law firm to investigate assets of the Sharif family during Panama papers probe. However, the court adjourned hearing on reference till Tuesday morning.