ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad accountability court will resume hearing today (Monday) of the graft references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against the ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Capt (r) Muhammad Safdar, on the Supreme Court’s July 28, 2017 orders in the Panama Papers case.
Khawaja Haris Ahmad, senior counsel for Nawaz Sharif and Amjad Pervez Malik, counsel for Maryam and Safdar will cross-examine the prosecution witness Malik Tayyab Ahmad, an employee of Standard Chartered Bank, who had earlier recorded his statement before the court judge Muhammad Bashir.
He continued recording his statement for four consecutive days. He also submitted before the court details of Nawaz Sharif’s local and foreign currency accounts.
In his statement, he stated that a total of Rs 1.19 billion was transferred in the account of Nawaz Sharif during 2010 to 2017.
He said in 2017, the account of Sharif had a balance of 7,568 Euros and $200,000. He said Nawaz Sharif withdrew $2,200 on February 7, 2017 and transferred $600,000 to his Pakistani currency account between March to May 2017.
He stated that Hussain Nawaz transferred £25,000 to the account of his father in December 2010, whereas Sharif transferred £25,000 to his Pakistani currency account in Sep 2015. He stated that Hussain had transferred €1.1 million and €40,000 to the account of his father in 2010 and 2012 respectively. He further stated that Sharif also transferred an amount of €900,000 to his Pakistani currency account on in September 2010 through five cheques. He said Sharif transferred €210,000 and €190,000 to his Pakistani currency account in April 2012 and November 2015, respectively. Another branch manager of Standard Chartered Bank, Noreen Shehzad, who replaced Malik Tayyab Ahmad, also submitted additional details of bank accounts of Nawaz Sharif.
The court is hearing Jeddah-based Al-Azizia Steel Mills (Pvt) Ltd and Hill Metals Establishments references filed by the NAB against the ousted premier and his children Hassan and Hussain Nawaz.
Nawaz Sharif was granted exemption from personal appearance till December 11. Maryam was also granted exemption from personal appearance till Dec 15. Nawaz Sharif is unlikely to appear today (Monday) as he is still in London with his ailing wife Kulsoom Nawaz.
Published in Daily Times, December 11th 2017.
