An accountability court on Tuesday acquitted Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz — sons of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif — in three corruption cases pertaining to Flagship, Avenfield apartments and Al-Azizia Steel Mills, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Islamabad accountability court’s judge Nasir Javed Rana announced the reserved verdict on petitions of Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz and acquitted them in three accountability references filed by the National Accountability Court (NAB) against them.
In a major relief to the PML-N, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) earlier acquitted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Avenfield reference.
During the hearing earlier in the day, Qazi Misbah, who was representing the brothers, argued that the PML-N supremo Nawaz and father of both suspects was acquitted by the trial court in the Flagship reference, while the NAB had withdrawn the appeal against the trial court verdict on November 29, 2023.
The proceedings, he added, could not be carried out on the allegations of assistance in a crime, when the main suspect in the case had been vindicated.
At the outset of the case, the court inquired Deputy Prosecutor NAB Azhar Maqbool about the report to be submitted 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.
Last Friday, Islamabad Accountability Court ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to submit the records on the plea of acquittal of Hasan and Hussain Nawaz in the references till March 19.
Accountability Court judge Nasir Javaid Rana heard the Avenfield, Al-Azizia and Flagship references on Friday and approved the request of Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz for their exemption from attendance.
On the other hand, the NAB officials sought a time to submit the records that was approved by the court and adjourned the hearing on the plea of acquittal of Hasan and Hussain Nawaz in the references till March 19.
On the previous hearing, the court accepted their bails and issued notices on the pleas of acquittal.
Hassan and Hussain Nawaz are accused in the Avenfield, Al-Azizia and Flagship references.
Worthy to mention here that Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz on Thursday surrendered themselves before an Accountability Court judge in Panama leaks references.
A few days ago, judge Nasir Javed Rana had suspended the perpetual arrest warrants for Hassan and Hussain up till today.
Hasan and Hussain Nawaz were declared absconders in the Panama reference 7 years ago.
Lawyer for Hassan and Husain, Qazi Misbah-ul-Hasan, told the court that since it had suspended the permanent arrest warrants for the accused in the case; now when they both had surrendered, the court was now requested to declare their warrants cancelled.
These are the accused in all three references, Judge Accountability Court remarked.
They are co-accused in all three references, lawyer Qazi Misbah-ul-Hasan took the plea.
He argued that other accused in Al-Azizia and the Avenfield references had been acquitted while they were acquitted by the trial court in the flagship reference.
However, after hearing the arguments of the lawyer, the court canceled the arrest warrants of Hasan and Hussain Nawaz.