Nawaz Sharif (left), Maryam Nawaz (centre), and Captain (r) Safdar Awan (right). Photo: Geo News file

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court will hear the Avenfield reference against the Sharif 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. 

Judge Muhammad Bashir will preside over the hearing.

The defendants Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam, and her husband Captain (r) Safdar Awan have reached the court premises. 

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The National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) important witness Wajid Zia ? head of the Joint Investigation Team that probed the Panama Papers case ? will record his statement.

Maryam and Captain (r) Safdar's lawyer Amjad Pervez will cross-question Zia today, while Nawaz's lawyer Khawaja Haris will question the witness on March 13.

During the previous hearing on March 2, Nawaz's counsel had submitted a request to club Zia's testimony for all three references. The judge had reserved his verdict on the matter but later dismissed Nawaz's plea and ordered Zia to appear in court on March 8 (today) and record his statement in the Avenfield case.

The cases

The trial against the Sharif family had commenced on September 14, 2017.

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.

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