Wajid Zia (left) and Nawaz Sharif (right). Photo: Geo News file 

ISLAMABAD: Head of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that probed into the Panama papers case, Wajid Zia, will appear before the court today to record his statement.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed three interim corruption references against the Sharif family in September last year in light of the Supreme Court's July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case. The bureau recently filed supplementary references in all three cases. 

This will be Zia's first appearance in court in the Avenfield reference against Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (retired) Safdar Awan. 

Both, Nawaz's lawyer Khawaja Haris and Maryam's lawyer Amjad Pervez, will cross-examine the prosecution's witness.

In the previous hearing, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court hearing the case had completed recording the statement of forensic expert Robert Radley who had a day earlier admitted that the Calibri font was available in a limited scale in 2005.

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The statements of five witnesses in the Flagship reference were recorded on Thursday. Three more witnesses have been summoned to record their statements. 

The corruption cases

The corruption references, filed against the Sharif family, pertain to the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment, offshore companies including Flagship Investment Ltd, and Avenfield properties of London.

Nawaz and sons Hussain and Hasan are accused in all three references whereas his daughter Maryam and son-in-law MNA Capt (retd) Safdar are accused in the Avenfield reference only.

In the Al Azizia and Flagship supplementary references, submitted in court on February 14, NAB had included eight new witnesses, as well as new evidence, including details of offshore companies of Hasan and Hussain.

The two brothers, based abroad, have been absconding since the proceedings began last year and were declared proclaimed offenders by the court.