Nawaz requests court to delay announcement of judgment in Avenfield case

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif requested the accountability court on Wednesday to delay the announcement of the judgment in the Avenfield case so he could be with his ailing wife.

“I want to see my wife in conscious condition before returning to Pakistan,” said Nawaz.

He said that delaying the announcement of the judgment for a few days would not hurt anyone. “I would like to be present in the court when this judgment is passed, the same court where my daughter and I appeared for over 100 hearings over the past year,” he added.

Responding to a question, Nawaz said he would return to Pakistan even if the judgment is against him. “I’m not a dictator who would run away,” he added.

Earlier on July 3, the Accountability Bureau reserved its decision in the Avenfield reference against former prime minister and his family.

The ruling will be issued on July 6. The court has also issued notices to the accused asking them to appear on the day.

Judge Muhammad Bashir reserved the verdict after hearing the case for 10 months during which at least 18 witnesses, including the head of the joint investigation team, Wajid Zia, appeared before the court.

In 2017, NAB filed three references against the Sharif family – the Avenfield property in London, Flagship Investment Ltd and Al-Azizia Steel Mills – in compliance with the Supreme Court orders in the Panama Papers case.

Nawaz and his sons Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz are accused in all three references whereas his daughter Maryam and Sharif’s son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar are accused in the Avenfield reference.

NAB’s accountability court has declared Hassan and Hussain proclaimed offenders.

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