October 04, 2007	Thursday	Ramazan 21, 1428

RAWALPINDI, Oct 3: An accountability court has adjourned the hearing in three references against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif and his other family members till October 18 when prosecution lawyers sought deferment.

Accountability Court No. 4 Judge Chaudhry Khalid Mehmood here on Wednesday conceded to the request of Senior Prosecution General Arif Ali Zafar Chohan and Deputy Prosecution General Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, who represented the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The lawyers contended that some political personalities were expected to return to the country and the hearing may be deferred till the political scenario of the country became clear.

In response to the request, the judge observed that if no progress was made in the investigation and if the accused remained out of the jurisdiction of the court, the cases would once again be adjourned sine die.

It may be mentioned here that the court, despite the repeated requests of NAB, refused to issue arrest warrants of the accused in three case, i.e. Hudebia Paper Mills, Ittifaq Foundry and Raiwind Assets.

The judge has been saying that he cannot issue arrest warrants till the accused return to the country as per the decision of the Supreme Court.

The arrest warrants shown to the former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif on his arrival at the Islamabad airport on September 10 were issued by the chairman of NAB.