Maryam Nawaz's counsel Amjad Pervaiz, during Tuesday's accountability court hearing of a corruption reference against the Sharif family, lashed out at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for providing the defendants an incomplete copy of the Panama Papers' joint investigation team (JIT) report.

He raised this argument while NAB witness Wajid Zia — the head of the JIT formed by the Supreme Court (SC) during the Panama Papers case — was recording his statement.

"Eight pages from volume three of the JIT report provided to us are missing," he told the court. "We have the right to access all the documents that are being presented [against the defendant]."

He gave these remarks after Zia submitted a copy of a letter that was written by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities in response to the JIT's request for confirmation of another letter — that the Sharifs said was written by former Qatar premier — in the court. Zia told the court that the copy of the letter sent to the UAE authorities by the JIT was filed under Mutual League Assistance (MLA) agreement in volume 10 of the report.

Pervaiz claimed that neither the JIT letter nor the UAE response was in the JIT report that had been given to him.

NAB prosecutor Imran Shafiq said that the pages might have been "skipped" during the binding of the report and assured him that the missing documents would be provided. Pervaiz questioned why the letter written by the JIT was not being presented in court.

"How can the response be made a part of the court record without presenting the original letter [written by the JIT]," he demanded. In response, NAB prosecutor said that Pervaiz was cross-questioning during the testimony. Pervaiz said that he was merely directing the court's attention towards the documents that had not been provided.

The accountability judge assured Pervaiz that his argument had been noted.

Apart from UAE's response to the JIT, the financial statement and a funds' flowchart of Nawaz's children's offshore companies were also submitted in court.

NAB had filed three references last year against Sharif and his family, and another reference against former finance minister Ishaq Dar. The three references against the Sharif family are related to the Flagship Investment Ltd, the Avenfield (London) properties and Jeddah-based Al-Azizia Company and Hill Metal Establishment.

The former premier and his sons, Hassan and Hussain, have been named in all three NAB references, while Maryam and husband Safdar have been named only in the Avenfield reference.

JIT head submits evidence of Nawaz's employment at Capital FZE

During today's hearing, Pervaiz also raised questions over the authenticity of a letter issued by a Dubai-based legal firm, Jebel Air Free Zone Authority (Jafza), that Zia presented as evidence of Nawaz's employment at Capital FZE.

The SC had disqualified Nawaz from public office last year for failing to declare a salary of 10,000 dirhams that he might have received as the chairman of Capital FZE board of directors as an asset during his campaign for the 2013 general elections.

"How can you prove that this is a public document?" Maryam's counsel asked. "This letter has not even been legalised by anyone and we don't know who wrote it."

NAB Prosecutor Imran Shafiq responded that Jafza's status in Dubai was similar to that of the Securities And Exchange Commission of Pakistan.

The letter, along with Pervaiz's arguments, was added to the court record.

Additionally, the counsel for both Nawaz and Maryam submitted a request saying that the authority to declare someone innocent or guilty rests with the court. The request also said that an investigation officer (such as Zia) "does not have the right to give their opinion" and should only mention facts.

NAB prosecutor argued that it was both important and legally allowed for Zia to explain the process of investigation and the evidence gathered.

Court ordered NAB to "lead" Zia so that proceedings would not be disturbed and adjourned the hearing until March 22.