ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court adjourned the Hudaibiya Papers Mills reference against Sharif family to Friday due to unavailability of one of the judges on Wednesday.

The Rs1.2 billion Hudaibiya Paper Mills case, involving money laundering charges against the Sharif family, was initiated by NAB in 2000 but quashed by the Lahore High Court in 2014.

The three-member SC bench, headed by Justice Mushir Alam and comprising justices Qazi Faez Isa and Mazhar Alam Miankhel, had had to resume hearing the NAB reference against the Sharif family today (Wednesday).

However, the hearing was adjourned till Friday due to unavailability of Mazhar Alam Miankhel.

During Tuesday's proceedings, Justice Isa asked the NAB prosecutor about the charges against the suspects in the case.

Hudaibiya case: SC asks NAB to explain charges, furnish evidence

At yesterday's hearing, the bench criticised NAB's failure to pursue the case

NAB Prosecutor Imran-ul-Haq informed the bench of the names of fake account holders, to which Justice Isa remarked that having fake accounts does not prove criminality, adding that the same facts were present in 2000.

The bench also inquired as to where the Hudaibiya case is mentioned in the July 28 Panama Papers case judgment, to which the NAB prosecutor replied that the judgment directed filing of fresh references if new evidence surfaces.

He added that the Panama case Joint Investigation Team's report contains material related to the Hudaibiya case.

Justice Isa remarked during the hearing that the apex court cannot rely on statements and needs solid evidence.

Newly appointed NAB Special Prosecutor Justice (retd) Shah Khawar also observed Tuesday's proceedings. 

On Monday, the three-member bench had dismissed NAB's request to adjourn proceedings of the case until a new prosecutor general is appointed at the bureau.

Hudaibiya Paper Mills case

The Hudaibiya Paper Mills was allegedly used as a cover by the Sharif family to launder money outside the country in the 1990s.

It was in relation to this case that the Sharif family's trusted aide, Ishaq Dar, recorded a confessional statement on April 25, 2000 in front of a magistrate in Lahore accepting his role in laundering money.

SECP submits Hudaibiya Paper Mills' record to JIT

Ishaq Dar?s confessional statement in the Hudaibiya Paper Mills part of the record: Sources

On the basis of that confession, a reference was filed by the NAB in 2000 before an accountability court against the Hudabiya Paper Mills, three Sharif brothers, Dar and others.

Dar was not charged as he had become an approver for the prosecution.

That reference was struck down by a referee judge of the LHC on March 11, 2014 in response to a writ petition filed in 2011 stating that Dar's confession was coerced.

Dar had claimed that he had made the 'confession' under duress and disowned the statement.