ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law MNA Capt (retd) Safdar are expected to be indicted today in the corruption references filed against them in an accountability court. 

The references were filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in light of the Supreme Court's July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case. 

Though Maryam and Safdar are reportedly in the country, the former premier is in London with his sons ? who, too, are accused. However, Nawaz is likely to still be indicted today as a representative on his behalf will plead the charges against him. 

Nawaz's plea to halt proceedings 

Nawaz Sharif pleads SC to file one corruption reference instead of three

Petition terms illegal filling of three similar corruption references; calls on SC to halt trials until single reference is filed

On October 13, the former prime minister filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking the quashing of the 'concurrent' corruption references against him.

It also calls upon the Supreme Court to halt the accountability court proceedings of the three references against the Sharif family until a single reference is filed.

Indictment deferred  

At the last hearing on October 13, the former prime minister did not appear in court as he is in London, along with his sons, to be with his wife who is undergoing treatment for lymphoma.

Lawyers' commotion delays Nawaz, Maryam and Safdar's indictment until Oct 19

Maryam Nawaz and Capt (retd) Safdar were both in court today but the judge halted the proceedings after lawyers protested against police high-handedness

The former premier's legal team nominated Zafir Khan as the "pleader" ? the person who will stand for Nawaz in court during his indictment.

Moreover, Judge Mohammad Bashir also approved NAB's plea to declare Hussain and Hasan Nawaz proclaimed offenders and separated their proceedings in the three references filed against them. 

Commotion at last hearing 

A commotion by members of the legal fraternity on Friday forced the accountability court judge to adjourn proceedings minutes after they began.

As the hearing went under way, the lawyers began protesting inside the court for beind disallowed to enter the premises by security personnel.

They claimed the Islamabad High Court has allowed lawyers to be present inside the judicial complex as well as the accountability court as "it is an open court".

Punjab AAG Khawar Bhatti assaulting a police officer on Oct 13, 2017. Photo: Geo News

 

The lawyers also argued with the deputy attorney general and created a commotion, forcing Judge Mohammad Bashir to leave for his chamber and abort the proceedings.

NAB officials said that they were manhandled by the lawyers as well and the head of their prosecution team, Sardar Muzaffar, was pushed from the dais.

After Punjab Additional Advocate General Khawar Ikram Bhatti was caught on camera slapping a police officer outside the court premises, the Punjab government on October 16 dismissed him from service.

The references

The NAB has in total filed three references against the Sharif family and one against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the accountability court, in light of the Supreme Court's orders in the Panama Papers case verdict of July 28.

The anti-graft body was given six weeks, from the date of the apex court's order, to file the reference in an accountability court while the accountability court was granted six months to wrap up the proceedings.

The references against the Sharif family pertain to the Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metals Establishment, their London properties and over dozen offshore companies owned by the family.

Court approves Maryam, Safdar's bail; separates cases of Nawaz's sons

The hearing has been adjourned until Oct 13 when Nawaz, Maryam and Safdar are expected to be indicted

Maryam and Safdar are only nominated in the London properties reference. At an earlier hearing, the court also approved Maryam and Safdar's bail in the Avenfiled properties case and ordered them to submit surety bonds worth Rs5 million each.

Safdar was also directed to take the court's permission before leaving the country from now on. The judge also provided a copy of the reference ? spread over 53 volumes ? to Maryam and Safdar.

NAB's Rawalpindi branch prepared two references regarding the Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metals Establishment, and the nearly dozen companies owned by the Sharif family.

Its Lahore branch prepared a reference on the Sharif family's Avenfield apartments in London and another against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for owning assets beyond his known sources of income.

If convicted, the accused may face up to 14 years imprisonment and lifelong disqualification from holding public office including the freezing of bank accounts and assets.