ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar Sunday ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court to wind up the hearings of all three corruption references against the Sharif family in a month.
During the proceeding, the petitioner said that concluding remarks are underway in Avenfield reference, Wajid Zia is being prosecuted in Al Azizia reference while the statement of investigation officer is yet to be recorded.
The verdict in the case cannot be declared yet, therefore, extension is needed, he added.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar directed NAB court judge Justice Mohammad Bashir to complete the hearing as early as possible as the accused and the people are in immense tension.
The CJP also turned down the plea of Nawaz’s lawyer Khawaja Harris pertaining to complete the trial in six weeks.
“The cases should be decided without further delay as the suspects and the people are facing difficulty,” remarked the CJ. “People are affected to the extent that they want the courts to hear cases on Saturdays and Sundays as well.”
Haris said that he would not work after court timings or on Sundays. The CJ asked him whether this was a threat or plea. Haris replied that he can’t commit.
“When I can work in this age, why can’t you?” remarked the CJ.
Meanwhile, the top judge has allowed ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz to meet Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, who is undergoing a treatment for cancer in London.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Supreme Court had previously twice extended the duration of the case. It had ordered to announce verdict in the case within three months.
However; when the trial failed to complete in six months, SC provided two more months to accomplish the process. DNA