By Muhammad Luqman
An anti-graft court has issued bailable arrest warrants for ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif in two other references — the Flagship Investment reference and the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment reference — while adjourning the hearing for the Avenfield until November 3.
The court had indicted Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Captain Mohammad Safdar on October 19 in connection with a reference pertaining to the Avenfield flats filed against them by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Sharif was indicted separately in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment references.
All three accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. Hassan and Hussain Nawaz were named co-accused in the charge sheet in the references.
As the hearing began, Sharif’s lawyer filed an application for the defendant’s exemption from the trial hearings for a week. It was, however, rejected by the court.
Capt Safdar arrived at the court a little earlier than his wife who made her way to the court directly after arriving in Islamabad from Lahore. “We are going through a time in Pakistan where speaking up against injustice is called contempt of court and speaking up for the nation is called treason, but I still believe that we will be victorious,” said Maryam outside the court.
Sharif failed to appear in court today as he is currently in Saudi Arabia with his mother where they performed Umra.
