The counsel for former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Khawaja Haris said on Monday that prosecution had completely failed to establish any link of his client with Avenfield apartments. Presenting his final arguments in the Avenfield reference before the Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir, Haris claimed that there is no evidence that former premier remained owner of London properties.
He also said that the prosecution has failed to prove that Sharif's children are his dependants or benamidar as well as his known sources of income and possession of property. "The NAB did not fan-out when these properties were purchased and what was the value of these properties at that time," he said.
Haris said that one-third of Wajiz Zia's statement consists of inferences and opinions drawn by the JIT which is not admissible in the court. The JIT report cannot be made part of the evidence, as implied before, because it contains opinions and inferences of the investigation team, he said, adding that it is the job of the court to draw inferences.
Haris further said that use of the term 'Sharif family' by JIT and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) investigators is vague in nature and in a case, specific charges have to be framed on individuals and naming the Sharif family holds no value until individuals in question are indicted.
The defence counsel said that share sale agreement of April 14, 1980 regarding sale of 25 percent shares of Ahli Steel Mill, the reply of UAE Ministry of Justice to mutual legal assistance (MLA) request, letter of credit (LC) regarding transportation of machinery of Ahli Steel Mill from Dubai to Saudi Arabia, concise statement, cash flow chart, Al-Tawfiq settlement and letter of Qatari Prince Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber did not mention the name of Sharif.
He said that the letter of Qatari prince had nothing to do with his client. He further stated that the JIT had mentioned contradictions in the two letters. "It was the job of court, not JIT, to discuss the contradictions," he said, adding that his client was indicted due to JIT report and JIT has failed to establish direct link of Sharif into this reference.
Haris said that Sharif was not involved in the Al-Tawfiq case as he did not remain share holder or director of Hudaibiya Paper Mills Limited. Tariq Shafi, a close relative of Sharif family, and Abdullah Ehli, among others, were made neither part of the proceedings nor part of references and the defense had no opportunity to cross-examine them. "There is ambiguity with regards to their role in the case," he said.
About the cash flow chart prepared by the JIT, Haris said that Zia did not know about the number of people who prepared the chart. "The key witness also did not know on what basis the cash flow chart was prepared by the JIT," he said. The court adjourned hearing of the case till today (Tuesday) and Haris will continue his final arguments.