The Islamabad High Court (IHC) resumed on Thursday the hearing of pleas filed by members of the Sharif family against their convictions in the Avenfield reference as well as former premier Nawaz’s petition to transfer the Al-Azizia and Flagship references to another court.
As the two-member bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb began the hearing, Nawaz’s counsel Khawaja Haris resumed presenting his arguments.
He pleaded that for an impartial and fair trial, a fresh judge needs to be assigned to hear the remaining corruption cases against his client.
During the hearing, the court directed Haris to present the similarities of the three cases, including common witnesses and defence, by laying it out in a chart form.
With regards to impartiality of judges, Justice Farooq wondered if a judge who has remained an anti-smoking advocate can preside over a case involving smoking.
Presenting his arguments, Haris claimed that Nawaz has nothing to do with any properties mentioned in the corruption references, adding that Nawaz’s children were dependants of their their grandfather and not Nawaz.
The hearing is under way.
