ISLAMABAD: The Accountability Court has decided to seek from the Supreme Court yet another extension to conclude the trial of former premier Nawaz Sharif in Avenfield properties and other references, as a revised deadline given to it is going to expire on June 9.

Judge Mohammad Bashir of the accountability court during the proceedings of the Al-Azizia reference said that he would write to the apex court to seek another extension on Monday.

He was replying to a query of defence counsel Khawaja Haris who remarked during the cross-examination of Panamagate Joint Investigation Team head Wajid Zia that the judge did not look as calm as he generally did. He asked the judge if everything was fine. Judge Bashir was dictating Mr Zia’s response to his stenographer at an unusually fast pace.

“I need to seek another extension and will write a letter to the Supreme Court today,” the judge responded.

In its July 28, 2017 verdict in the Panama Papers case, the SC had disqualified the former prime minister and asked the National Accountability Bureau to file references before the accountability court on the basis of investigation into the Panama Papers allegations, with a directive to the court to complete the proceedings within six months.

Revised deadline for completion of proceedings in references against former PM to end on 9th; hearing of final arguments in Avenfield properties reference today

As NAB filed the references in September 2017, the accountability court was supposed to conclude the trial by March 2018. The SC not only extended the deadline by two months but also added granted another month to the accountability court on its request to complete the proceedings.

With the revised deadline of June 9 drawing near, the court has so far completed the recording of testimonies of the ousted PM, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and her spouse retired Captain Muhammad Safdar in the Avenfield properties reference.

Mr Sharif is yet to record his statement in another round of accountability court appearances in Al-Azizia and Flagship Investment references.

The court is currently recording the testimony of the star prosecution witness in the Al-Azizia reference Wajid Zia who headed the JIT that probed the Panama Papers case. The prosecution will produce an investigation official of NAB as their final witness in Al-Azizia reference after him.

The JIT head and the NAB official may also have to testify in the Flagship reference, while recording of the final arguments in all the three references is also on the agenda.

Zia’s testimony

During his cross-examination on Monday, Mr Zia said two parties — Mohammad Hussain and Tariq Shafi — were involved in the 1978 sale agreement of the Gulf Steel Mill.

When the defence counsel asked Mr Zia if he believed that Gulf Steel Mill was ever established, the JIT head said the documents showed that it was established. Regarding the shares sale agreement of Gulf Steel Mill between Nawaz Sharif’s cousin Tariq Shafi and Mohammad Abdullah Kayed Ahli in 1978, the witness said the JIT did not verify its authenticity believing the contents to be correct. Mr Zia added that the JIT had never contacted Mr Ahli in this matter.

Another shares sale agreement on April 14, 1980 between the two persons was signed and witnessed by Mohammad Abdul Wahab Guladari. The JIT, however, did not contact the witness to record his statement. While the JIT did try to locate another witness, Mohammad Akram, who also had signed the sale agreement, he could not be found, said Mr Zia, adding that the Pakistani consular Munawwar Hussain and the UAE foreign office were not contacted for the verification of the deal.

The defence counsel then asked about an affidavit of Ahli’s son Abdur Rehman stating that 33 million Dirhams was paid against the sale of Gulf Steel Mill. Mr Zia admitted that the JIT never asked Abdur Rehman to verify the content of his affidavit but said there were contradictions between the two sale agreements. The JIT head said the 1980 agreement was not genuine, explaining that the UAE authorities too had termed it fake.

During the cross-examination when Mr Haris questioned Mr Zia if the JIT before requesting the UAE authorities for mutual legal assistance had seen a copy of the letter of credit through which the scrap machinery had been transported from Dubai to Jeddah, the witness replied in affirmative. The defence counsel said the machinery had not been transported from Dubai but from Sharjah. He also said it wasn’t scrap machinery but a dismantled equipment of a second-hand rolling mill as per letter of credit. Mr Zia said the JIT had not sent any request to the UAE authorities for verification of the letter of credit.

The court later adjourned further proceeding in Al-Azizia reference till June 11. However, Judge Bashir of the accountability court will hear final arguments in Avenfield Properties reference on Tuesday (today).

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2018