Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Photo: Geo News file

ISLAMABAD: The accountability court will hear the Flagship Investment and Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption references against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family today. 

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 as well.

Witness cross-examined in Flagship supplementary reference against Nawaz

Former PM Nawaz Sharif arrived in Islamabad from Lahore earlier this morning

Nawaz reached Islamabad through a special plane to appear before the accountability court. 

The court has summoned prosecution witnesses to record their statements today in the two references. Judge Muhammad Bashir will be hearing the references. 

During the previous hearing, Nawaz's legal counsel Khawaja Haris completed the cross-questioning of witness Abdul Hannan. The witness had failed to satisfy the court regarding the veracity of the documents submitted as the land registry documents did not have any signature or official stamp.

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.