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Sharif’s lawyer cross-examines UK-based NAB witnesses in Avenfield reference
ByWeb Desk
Posted on February 23, 2018
ISLAMABAD: The accountability court here on Friday resumed hearing of the Avenfield Apartments reference against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar.
Presently, the defence lawyer is cross-examining forensic expert Robert M.Radley via video-link. The witness is present at Pakistan High Commission office in London.
Sharif’s lead counsel Khawaja Haris is also expected to cross-examine another National Accountability Bureau (NAB) witness Akhtar Raja.
Calibri font existed when trust deed prepared
At the last hearing on Thursday, forensic expert Robert M. Radley, the main witness against Sharif’s daughter and the son-in-law, informed the court that the Calibri font existed when the trust deed of the property was prepared.
However, he said the font wasn’t commercially available before January 2007 and the trust deed was prepared in February 2006, hence it was fabricated.
Radley was recording his statement from the Pakistan High Commission office in London via video-link. He had previously identified the use of Calibri font in the document of the trust deed of the property during the probe carried out by Panamagate Joint Investigation Team (JIT).
During cross-examination by Sharif’s counsel, the prosecution witness admitted that the Calibri font existed since April 2005 in a beta version of Windows Vista.
Radley also said he was taking help from notes which he had prepared for the cross-questioning, besides meeting the NAB officials a day earlier.
He further said he along with another witness, Akhtar Raja of the Quist Solicitors, had held a meeting with NAB Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi.
Sharif’s lead counsel inquired Radley whether he was answering questions about the font after looking at the notes.
To which, the witness responded positively.
The counsel then asked whether he discussed the notes with NAB officials in his meeting with them.
At which, the NAB deputy prosecutor general, who was sitting next to the witness in the Pakistan High Commission office in London as an observer, objected to the question about Radley’s meeting with the officials of anti-graft body.
Abbasi asserted that he was present as an observer in compliance with the Islamabad High Court’s orders.
Haris then responded to the objection sarcastically and said the meeting held on Wednesday must have also been convened in compliance with the court’s order.
Earlier on Thursday, Sharif’s lead counsel Khawaja Haris raised objection over presence of NAB officials at Pakistan High Commission office in London.
The judge then remarked that the representatives of accused were also present at court.
To which, Haris contended that the representatives were attending the hearing as observers.
Sharif’s plea against two supplementary references
Prior to testimony of the prosecution witnesses, Judge Mohammad Bashir conducted trial in three corruption references, namely Al-Azizia Steel Mills, Flagship Investments and Avenfield properties, against the Sharif family members.
At the outset of hearing, Sharif’s lawyer Ayesha Hamid presented her arguments against two supplementary references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
She contended that the supplementary references, namely Al Aziza Steel Mills and Flagship Investments, have been filed recently on similar allegations.
She argued that the supplementary references were unneeded.
The counsel also pleaded with the judge to inquire about the case from the Supreme Court’s monitoring judge, Justice Ijazul Ahsan.
On the occasion, she requested the court to extend the six-month deadline to wrap up the case, as what she said, the testimony of 16 new witnesses would take time.
The NAB prosecution opposed the plea and argued that the case should not be further delayed.
Hearing the arguments from both sides, the accountability judge then reserved verdict on the plea by the defence lawyer and adjourned the hearing till 1:30 pm on Thursday.
Sharif’s counsel then further requested the court to grant exemption to her client from reappearing before the court after 1:30 pm.
At which, the judge sought a written request with reasons.
The defence lawyer then submitted another written request.
The accountability judge then exempted Sharif and his daughter from personal appearance during the hearing later that day.
The court had reserved decision on a plea submitted by defense lawyer against two supplementary references filed against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family members.
https://arynews.tv/en/accountability-court-hear-avenfield-reference-sharifs/
ByWeb Desk
Posted on February 23, 2018
ISLAMABAD: The accountability court here on Friday resumed hearing of the Avenfield Apartments reference against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar.
Presently, the defence lawyer is cross-examining forensic expert Robert M.Radley via video-link. The witness is present at Pakistan High Commission office in London.
Sharif’s lead counsel Khawaja Haris is also expected to cross-examine another National Accountability Bureau (NAB) witness Akhtar Raja.
Calibri font existed when trust deed prepared
At the last hearing on Thursday, forensic expert Robert M. Radley, the main witness against Sharif’s daughter and the son-in-law, informed the court that the Calibri font existed when the trust deed of the property was prepared.
However, he said the font wasn’t commercially available before January 2007 and the trust deed was prepared in February 2006, hence it was fabricated.
Radley was recording his statement from the Pakistan High Commission office in London via video-link. He had previously identified the use of Calibri font in the document of the trust deed of the property during the probe carried out by Panamagate Joint Investigation Team (JIT).
During cross-examination by Sharif’s counsel, the prosecution witness admitted that the Calibri font existed since April 2005 in a beta version of Windows Vista.
Radley also said he was taking help from notes which he had prepared for the cross-questioning, besides meeting the NAB officials a day earlier.
He further said he along with another witness, Akhtar Raja of the Quist Solicitors, had held a meeting with NAB Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi.
Sharif’s lead counsel inquired Radley whether he was answering questions about the font after looking at the notes.
To which, the witness responded positively.
The counsel then asked whether he discussed the notes with NAB officials in his meeting with them.
At which, the NAB deputy prosecutor general, who was sitting next to the witness in the Pakistan High Commission office in London as an observer, objected to the question about Radley’s meeting with the officials of anti-graft body.
Abbasi asserted that he was present as an observer in compliance with the Islamabad High Court’s orders.
Haris then responded to the objection sarcastically and said the meeting held on Wednesday must have also been convened in compliance with the court’s order.
Earlier on Thursday, Sharif’s lead counsel Khawaja Haris raised objection over presence of NAB officials at Pakistan High Commission office in London.
The judge then remarked that the representatives of accused were also present at court.
To which, Haris contended that the representatives were attending the hearing as observers.
Sharif’s plea against two supplementary references
Prior to testimony of the prosecution witnesses, Judge Mohammad Bashir conducted trial in three corruption references, namely Al-Azizia Steel Mills, Flagship Investments and Avenfield properties, against the Sharif family members.
At the outset of hearing, Sharif’s lawyer Ayesha Hamid presented her arguments against two supplementary references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
She contended that the supplementary references, namely Al Aziza Steel Mills and Flagship Investments, have been filed recently on similar allegations.
She argued that the supplementary references were unneeded.
The counsel also pleaded with the judge to inquire about the case from the Supreme Court’s monitoring judge, Justice Ijazul Ahsan.
On the occasion, she requested the court to extend the six-month deadline to wrap up the case, as what she said, the testimony of 16 new witnesses would take time.
The NAB prosecution opposed the plea and argued that the case should not be further delayed.
Hearing the arguments from both sides, the accountability judge then reserved verdict on the plea by the defence lawyer and adjourned the hearing till 1:30 pm on Thursday.
Sharif’s counsel then further requested the court to grant exemption to her client from reappearing before the court after 1:30 pm.
At which, the judge sought a written request with reasons.
The defence lawyer then submitted another written request.
The accountability judge then exempted Sharif and his daughter from personal appearance during the hearing later that day.
The court had reserved decision on a plea submitted by defense lawyer against two supplementary references filed against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family members.
https://arynews.tv/en/accountability-court-hear-avenfield-reference-sharifs/
