ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s children – Hussain, Hassan, Maryam Nawaz and her spouse retired Capt Muhammad Safdar – filed appeals in the Supreme Court on Friday, seeking review of the verdict that directed the national anti-graft watchdog to file references against them in connection with their off-shore properties.
On July 28, the apex court had disqualified Nawaz Sharif for not being honest for concealing his salary from a Dubai-based company and directed the National Accountability Bureau to file references against him and his children on the basis of the report of a joint investigation team that probed their off-shore properties.
The applicants through their counsel filed appeals today, pleading the apex court to review its judgment and stay further implementation of it until their appeals are decided.
They contended that the Supreme Court could not direct NAB to file references against them and argued that the top court had become party to NAB proceedings and thus, depriving them of their right to fair trial guaranteed under the Constitution.
They submitted that the way Panama JIT carried out investigation did not conform to the principles of justice. Besides, the appointment of a SC judge to monitor NAB proceedings is in violation of the articles of the constitution that guarantee the right to fair trial under due process of law and right to life and dignity and protection.
