LAHORE: Three prosecution witnesses on Wednesday testified before an accountability court in the Punjab Ashiana-i-Iqbal Housing reference against Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and others.

The defence counsel also completed the cross-examination of witnesses Saeed Akhtar, Ali Arsalan and Hanif Akhtar -- all officials of private banks.

Earlier, the jail officials presented Shehbaz and Lahore Development Authority former head Ahad Cheema. Fawad Hassan Fawad, former principal secretary to prime minister, had been granted exemption from personal appearance in the trial proceedings.

Presiding Judge Amjad Nazir Chaudhry adjourned further hearing till March 24 and directed the NAB to produce more witnesses. Twenty-three of the 86 prosecution witnesses recorded their statements.

After the hearing, Shehbaz had a telephonic conversation with his elder brother Nawaz Sharif and son Suleman, both living in London.

PML-N leaders including Malik Ahmad Khan and Rana Mashhood Ahmad visited the court and discussed the political situation with the party president. The legal team of Shehbaz discussed with him the final draft of his bail petition in the money-laundering reference to be filed in the Lahore High Court.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2021