The National Accountability Bureau has told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz had no role in the purchase of Avenfield apartments.
The NAB prosecutor made this statement during the hearing of the petitions filed by Maryam and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar in the Avenfield reference case.
A two-member bench consisting of Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard the appeals.
NAB Special Prosecutor Usman G. Rashid said that the main accused in the case is not present, Maryam and Safdar are accused of being angry.
The court replied that if the main accused Nawaz Sharif is not pleading the case, it does not mean that the indictment has been proved. The court asked the prosecution to try the case on merit.
When the prosecutor referred to the decision of the Supreme Court in the Panama Leaks case, Justice Amir Farooq said that the NAB has to prove its case independent of the observation of the Supreme Court.
Justice Farooq inquired whether NAB had investigated the case after the JIT, the NAB prosecutor replied that they had investigated the case and summoned the witnesses and the accused.
During the hearing, Justice Kayani said that Maryam is accused of misleading the investigators. Did he mislead NAB or JIT?
When the NAB prosecutor was presenting his arguments, Justice Farooq asked him to keep in mind that Wajid Zia was not the investigating officer but his witness.
Justice Aamir Farooq inquired whether Maryam helped acquire the property in 1993, did she have any role in it and how did the trust deed of 2006 help in acquiring the property? Justice Farooq inquired.
He warned the NAB prosecutor that he was entering an alley
The prosecutor said the property was acquired by Nelson and Nescoll in the 90s and that Mary had no role in the purchase. He added that it helped keep the property a secret.
When asked, Maryam’s lawyer replied that Nawaz Sharif has admitted in any forum that he is the owner of the property.
The NAB prosecutor argued that Nawaz Sharif used to live in the same apartment. On which Justice Kayani remarked that almost half of Pakistan lives in other people’s houses.
