A Accountability Court here on Monday postponed the hearing of a plea filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to reopen three corruption references against the Sharif brothers and other members of their family till September 15. Special Judge Chaudhry Abdul Haq deferred the hearing and also directed the prosecution and the defence lawyers to appear before the court with full preparation on the next date of hearing.
The NAB Additional Prosecutor General (APG), Chaudhry Muhammad Riaz, told the court that the Sharifs and other accused in the three references should personally face the trial when notices were issued to them. Chaudhry Hassan Maan, the defence counsel, stated that it was not mandatory for his clients Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif to appear before the court personally as the references had not been opened so far. Maan also said the political opponents of the Sharif brothers had been trying to harm their credibility.
The petitions requested the court to reopen references pertaining to Ittefaq Foundries and Raiwind assets. In the reference relating to Raiwind assets, the main allegation is that Nawaz Sharif had acquired vast tracts of land upon which a number of palatial houses and mansions were built with resources which appeared to be grossly disproportionate to known sources of his income. Apart from Nawaz, his mother is also an accused in the case.
In Ittefaq Foundries case, Nawaz Sharif, his brother Abbas Sharif and Kamal Qureshi are accused of committing corruption of Rs 1,063 million. The main allegation in the case is that Ittefaq Foundries Ltd obtained cash finance from the National Bank. As per NAB allegations, the company wilfully defaulted in 1994.