Avenfield properties: NAB files supplementary reference against Sharif family

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Monday filed a supplementary reference against Sharif family in Avenfield properties reference. The anti-graft body filed a supplementary reference in the Avenfield properties reference against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Hussain Nawaz, Hassan Nawaz, Captain Muhammad Safdar (retd) and Maryam Nawaz. The NAB had filed three references including Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metals Establishment, Avenfield properties and Flagship Investment Ltd.
The NAB prosecutor informed Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir that in new supplementary reference, seven new witnesses have been included along with fresh evidence. Out of seven witnesses included in supplementary reference, two are from the United Kingdom.
The court was informed that out of seven witnesses, one is forensic expert Robert Radley, two are affiliated with the Ministry of Information, one witness belongs to a private media channel, two are NAB employees and one is a close relative of Wajid Zia, head of joint investigation team (JIT) which had probed Panama Papers case.
The prosecutor informed the court that NAB has recorded initial statement from UK-based witnesses. The TV interviews of Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz also were made part of evidence.
Meanwhile, hearing corruption reference against former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, the Accountability Court judge recorded statements of three witnesses and adjourned hearing till January 26. The prosecution witness Assistant Commissioner Shalimar (Lahore), Ali Akbar Bhinder while testifying his statement said that he appeared before the NAB team in Lahore on August 17, 2016 and produced details of properties of Dar's wife, Tabbassum Ishaq Dar.
Bhinder said that he has given the property details of a two kanal, 19 marla property of the Dar family, situated in Mauzoo Bhattiyan Tehsil to the NAB investigator.
Another witness Assistant Excise Taxation Officer Niaz Subhani informed the court that he appeared before the NAB in August 2017 and produced the record of properties including Hajveri Foundation. While recording statement, another witness Ubaid Saimen told the court that he produced details of 15 banks accounts of Ishaq Dar, his wife Tabassum Dar and his companies.
However, the court did not record the statement of fourth prosecution witness namely Syed Qaboos Aziz, a former NARDA official who was terminated after he provided details by hand to NAB's regional office in Lahore about the family tree of finance minister on August 21, and his statement will be recorded on the next hearing. The court has also issued notices to Director Operations, Data Warehouse NADRA, regarding provision of record.