The Federal Judicial Complex where the accountability court is situated. Photo: File 

ISLAMABAD: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Additional Director Wajid Zia, who headed the probe into the Sharif family's assets during the Panama Papers case, will appear before the accountability court conducting corruption proceedings against former premier Nawaz Sharif and his family today.

Nawaz's counsel, Khawaja Haris, will resume cross-examination of the 'star' witness in the Avenfield properties reference ? one of three filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in light of the Supreme Court's Panama Papers case judgment last year.  

Nawaz, daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar have been indicted in the Avenfield reference.

During yesterday's proceedings, Haris questioned Zia if there were any documents which proved that Nawaz currently is, or ever was, the beneficial owner of Avenfield properties. To this, Zia replied: "We don't have documents to show that Nawaz was the beneficial owner."

On Tuesday, Zia, finished recording his statement in the case.

At that hearing, Zia informed the court that Nawaz's elder son Hussain owned the Avenfield flats from 1993 to 1996.

When Maryam's counsel Amjad Pervez objected to the claim, Zia said Hussain had informed the JIT of the same so the fact cannot be disputed. Zia also asserted that the signed documents submitted to the JIT by Nawaz's children were bogus.

The cases

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

Wajid Zia completes recording statement in Avenfield reference against Sharifs

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.