Ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz and her husband capt r safdar on Monday appeared in accountability court over references filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Panama Leaks case.
During the hearing conducted by Justice Bashir, bails of Maryam Nawaz and Captain (r) Safdar were approved after lawyer Tariq Fazal Chaudhry submitted surety bonds of Rs5 million each in the court.
The court has rejected NAB’s request to confiscate Safdar’s passport and to issue his judicial remand, however, he has been directed not to leave the country without court’s permission. Copies of references have also been handed over to PML-N leader.
Sharif family counsel Khawaja Harris also presented Kulsoom Nawaz’s medical report and told that Nawaz Sharif was ready to appear in the court but due to his wife’s health, he would not be available for 15 days.
The court asked whether Nawaz Sharif should be given exemption for 15 days over which NAB prosecutor appealed to issue his non-bailable arrest warrant for not attending the hearing despite assurance. He further said that no accused can get exemption before indictment.
Talking to media, Maryam Nawaz said that we appeared before the court despite reservations, adding that 20 crore people elected Nawaz Sharif as their PM and the court ousted him in a second.
She asserted that we are being trialed despite disqualification and that some people are summoned in every hearing. Pakistan law is not applicable on my brothers, they will decide about their appearance by themselves, she continued.
Maryam Nawaz stated questions will be raised when a case filed on Panama Leaks ended on Iqama and that the judges have to answer these questions. She maintained that questions sent to Joint Investigation Team are still unanswered as they were baseless allegations.
Nawaz Sharif was disqualified over already decided verdict and references were prepared against him. Its our victory that one by one trials were filed against us and we survived them, she added.
Asif Kirmani, Pervez Rashid, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Marvi Memon and other Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders were also present on the occasion.
Earlier on October 2, Nawaz Sharif appeared in NAB court over references pertaining to London flats, Nelson, Nescom, Hill Metal and Azizia Steel Mills.
The court postponed indictment proceeding against former PM till October 9.
On September 26, Nawaz Sharif had short appearance before the court after which he was granted permission to leave to attend his ailing wife. The court had also issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Sharif’s sons Hassan, Hussain and son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar while bailable warrant was issued for Maryam Nawaz over failing to attend the hearing.
