An accountability court Tuesday granted relief to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s sons — Hasan and Hussain — on the petitions seeking acquittal in corruption cases related to the Al-Azizia Steel Mills, Flagship company and Avenfield apartments.
Earlier, while presenting arguments before the court, the brothers’ counsel Qazi Misbah said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz was exonerated by the trial court in the Flagship reference, while the National Accountability Court (NAB) withdrew its appeal against the trial court verdict as well on November 29, last year.
The lawyer said the proceedings could not be carried out merely on the allegations of abetting in a crime, when the main suspect had been acquitted.
At the outset of the case, the court inquired Deputy Prosecutor NAB Azhar Maqbool about the report he was supposed to submit on the plea. The deputy prosecutor apprised the court that the Supreme Court’s verdict was not a hurdle in the case, hence, the court could announce its verdict on the petition.
Maqbool asked the court to record his statement in this regard, stating that the said petition was not related to the NAB amendment. In those cases against Nawaz, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Capt (retd) Safdar, the high court had announced its verdict, he said.
He said the NAB did not file an appeal against the acquittal of Maryam, but Hasan and Hussain were accused of abetting and conspiring.
The NAB prosecutor said the main suspects in the cases, wherein Hasan and Hussain were alleged of involved, were acquitted.
