Islamabad (Staff Report): Khawaja Harris, ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer, on Monday excused from representing his client in all three corruption references filed by NAB.
Haris formally withdrew from the case as Accountability Judge Muhammad Bashir resumed proceedings in the Al-Azizia reference.
Haris said it was not possible for him to pursue these cases under such pressure. He also expressed his inability to work on Saturdays and Sundays — which are official weekly court holidays.
On Sunday, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar ordered the accountability court to announce decision on all three corruption references against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family within a month.
A two-member bench headed by the chief justice heard the petition seeking further extension for the conclusion of trails against the former premier, his sons, daughter, and son-in-law.
The chief justice rejected Nawaz’s counsel Khawaja Haris’ petition for completing the trial in six weeks, observing that final should be announced within a month by fixing daily hearings including Saturdays.
However, the top judge remarked, Nawaz along with his daughter could go to see his ailing wife Begum Kulsoom Nawaz in London if he wanted to during the trial period.
The SC in July 28, 2017, Panamagate verdict, while disqualifying Nawaz Sharif from the post of prime minister, had originally set a deadline of six months which ended in mid-March but was extended for two months after the judge requested the apex court.
Earlier, the trial court had submitted the second plea for a deadline extension, which was approved by the Supreme Court ordering both sides to finish the corruption cases by June 9.
On June 4, Accountability Judge Muhammad Bashir while hearing the Al-Azizia reference had remarked that he would write a letter to the Supreme Court requesting another extension to wrap up corruption references against the Sharif family.