The Accountability Court hearing corruption cases against the Sharif family members on Monday adjourned hearing of the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case till Tuesday (today) after former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's counsel told it that he will not proceed further until the decision on a petition regarding alleged alteration in the statement of star prosecution witness Wajid Zia is announced by Islamabad High Court (IHC).
At the outset of the hearing, the associates of Sharif's counsel Khawaja Haris informed the Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Arshad Malik that Haris is busy in the IHC where a petition filed by them regarding alleged change in the statement of star prosecution witness Zia - who also headed the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that probed the Panama Papers case - is fixed for hearing.
During the course of hearing, former Premier Sharif was also present in the courtroom where he was brought from Adiala Jail amid tight security arrangements. Zia also appeared before the court for cross-examination. The judge said, "Let the defense counsel come." Later, he took a break for a few hours.
Later, Haris arrived and requested the court to adjourn the hearing, as he had filed a petition in IHC regarding alleged change in the statement of Zia during cross-examination on the previous hearing. He said the IHC fixed the matter for Tuesday (today) for hearing as well as issued notice to the prosecution. He said he will not proceed further until his application is decided.
On this, NAB Prosecutor Waqas Malik said that IHC has not issued any restraining order and, therefore, cross-examination of the witness should be started. The judge asked to leave that portion and go ahead. On this Haris said that the record will not be rectified.
The defence counsel said if there is an amendment in the statement then he would have no option but to recuse himself from this case. Haris further said if the prosecutor had appeared before the IHC on Monday then a decision on the petition might have been passed. On this, the NAB prosecutor said how he could appear before the IHC when there was no notice. The court after hearing the arguments adjourned the hearing till Tuesday (today).
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