An accountability court on Saturday allowed one-time exemption to leader of opposition in National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif from personal appearance in the hearing of Ashiana-i-Iqbal Housing Scheme case. Three witnesses of the prosecution were also present in the court; however, their statements could not be recorded since most of the defence lawyers were not available due to strike. Therefore, court adjourned hearing till July 24.
Earlier, the counsel of Shahbaz submitted an application seeking one-time exemption from personal appearance on health grounds. He said Shahbaz had pain in his back and doctors advised him rest. He also presented a medical certificate.
The court allowed the application and directed the counsel to ensure appearance of his client on next hearing. Other suspects of the case, including former director general of Lahore Development Authority Ahad Cheema and former principal secretary to then prime minister Fawad Hassan Fawad were also brought to the court.
One of the defence counsels Qazi Misbahul Hassan raised objection to two hearings of the case in a week. He asked the court if there was any instruction to conclude the proceedings hastily.
He said the defence would extend its full cooperation if the court wanted to hear the case on daily basis. NAB prosecutor Waris Ali Janjua interrupted and said the proceedings were very much within the domain of section 16 of National Accountability Ordinance 1999, which required day to day hearing of cases to be decided within 30 days. The court also observed that the objection of the defence counsel to two hearings in one week was uncalled for.