Deposed Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Appear Before Accountability Court

Islamabad: An accountability court here has summoned deposed Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to appear before it on August 13 in two pending corruption references against him and his family. It was the first hearing of the the Al-Azizia and Flagship Investment graft cases after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) shifted the references from the court of accountability judge Mohammad Bashir to the court of judge Arshad Malik, Geo News reported.

The trial against the Sharifs commenced on September 14, 2017 after Pakistan’s anti-corruption body NAB filed cases relating to the Avenfield, Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment, and offshore companies, including Flagship Investment Limited on the Supreme Court’s directives in the landmark Panamagate verdict. The officials of National Accountability Bureau told the court on Thursday that Sharif, who was supposed to appear before the court, could not be produced due to security concerns. The court then ordered the prosecution to present Sharif, Panamagate Joint Investigation Team head and prosecution’s key witness Wajid Zia for the hearing on August 13. (IANS)