ISLAMABAD: The counsel for ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif in cases against him and his family members on Thursday raised objections to what he called interference by a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor during the cross-examination of a witness. He accused the head of the prosecution of trying to ‘manipulate’ the witnesses.

Mr Sharif’s counsel, Advocate Khawaja Haris Ahmed, alleged that NAB prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi had become a party in the cases against the former PM.

When Mr Abbasi, during the testimony of the prosecution witness, tried to suggest something to him, Mr Haris strongly objected to it, requesting Accountability Court Judge Mohammad Bashir not to let the prosecutor to get in the way.

He alleged that Mr Abbasi had earlier ‘influenced’ prosecution witness Robert William Radley he was supposed to testify in the Avenfield apartments reference against Mr Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law retired Captain Mohammad Safdar.

Ex-PM says unlike Imran he doesn’t comment on hearsay

It may be mentioned that Mr Radley, while testifying, admitted that Mr Abbasi, along with a NAB official, another prosecution witness Akhtar Riaz Raja and an individual namely Shakeel, had met him and discussed the testimony.

Mr Raja is first cousin of Wajid Zia, the head of the joint investigation team (JIT) formed by the Supreme Court to investigate the Panama Papers case.

Mr Radely, a forensic expert who identified the use of Calibri font prior to its formal launch in the trust deed singed by Maryam Nawaz, also admitted that in the meeting he had prepared the notes which he used during the cross-examination on him.

On Thursday, Advocate Haris pointed out to the accountability judge that the prosecutor was continuously obstructing in the cross-examination.

At this, Mr Abbasi said it was his right to raise valid objections during the proceedings.

This led to a brief argument between them and the accountability judge tried to calm them down.

The accountability court completed the recording of statements of five prosecution witnesses. It will continue trial proceeding against the Sharif family members on Friday.

Prosecution witness Wajid Zia is likely to record his statement on Friday.

Advocate Haris suggested to the court that after recording of Mr Zia’s statement, he might cross-examine the latter the next working day.

Prosecutor Abbasi, on the other hand, said the defence counsel should complete cross-examination on the witness the same day.

Earlier talking to the media outside the accountability court, Mr Sharif — who has recently been elected the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) supreme leader — said that he was looking towards the Supreme Court what action it would take against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan for allegedly submitting fake certificate regarding his Banigala residence.

When asked to comment on the matter, he said “I am not Imran”, adding that unlike the PTI chief, he did not prefer to comment on hearsay.

“I am consulting my lawyers and colleagues and will respond in a proper manner,” he said.

It may be mentioned that the chairman of Bhara Kahu UC stated that he did not issue an NOC in 1990 for any housing society or approve the site plan for Mr Khan’s estate, and declared the certificate bearing his signature presented before the apex court to be a fake.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2018