ISLAMABAD: The accountability court on Wednesday released verdict on former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif and daughter Maryam Nawaz’s exemption plea from appearance in supplementary reference cases filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Sharif’s counsel had filed the exemption plea requesting a 7-day leave from court appearance on grounds of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz’s deteriorating health and treatment consultation with the doctors.
The accountability court under Justice Mohammad Bashir issued the court order, stating that the accused was not given exemption from appearance as the proceedings of the case were to be affected if Sharifs remained absent or may not return due to any reason.
It further said that the use of modern technology had made it easier to communicate from long-distance, thus the accused could make use of that technology to consult with the doctors or talk to family members.
NAB had previously proposed that Sharif’s name should be put on Exit Control List (ECL) as the trial was reaching its concluding phases.
Nawaz Sharif and family have been under trial since September last year in corruption cases filed by NAB. However, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz has been under treatment in London after being diagnosed with cancer. Previously, new medical reports had surfaced after which the Sharifs had filed an exemption plea from appearance in court.
