Court to hear Al Azizia, Flagship supplementary references today

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Photo: Geo News file ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has reached the accountability court for the hearing of the supplementary reference Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investment Ltd. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed three interim corruption references against the Sharif family in September last year in light of the Supreme Court's July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case. The court has summoned eight witnesses, in total, to record their statements in both cases. Judge Muhammad Bashir will hear the reference. Nawaz and his daughter, Maryam, reached the court premises, following which, the hearing was adjourned till 11.30am. The cases The corruption references, filed against the Sharif family, pertain to the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment, offshore companies including Flagship Investment Ltd, and Avenfield properties of London. Nawaz and sons Hussain and Hasan are accused in all three references whereas his daughter Maryam and Safdar are accused in the Avenfield reference only. In the Al Azizia and Flagship supplementary references, submitted in court on February 14, NAB had included eight new witnesses in each reference, as well as new evidence, including details of offshore companies of Hasan and Hussain.