ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s counsel, Khawaja Haris concluded his arguments on Thursday in the hearing of the petition requesting the remaining two references against Sharif to be transferred to another accountability court.
Haris argued that for an impartial and fair trial, a new judge should be assigned to hear the remaining two corruption cases – Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investment Limited – against his client.
He argued that the incumbent judge hearing the case has already convicted Sharif in the Avenfield case and in order to ensure a fair hearing he should not decide the other two cases.
On July 6, an accountability court, presided over by Justice Mohammad Bashir, sentenced Nawaz to 11 years in prison with a fine of £8 million (1.3 billion rupees). His daughter Maryam Nawaz was sentenced to eight years with a £2 million fine (335 million rupees), while his son-in-law Captain (Retd.) Safdar Awan was given a one-year sentence.
Sharif and family members have also filed petitions in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against their convictions in the Avenfield case.
Presenting his arguments, Haris said that Sharif has nothing to do with any properties mentioned in the corruption references, adding that his children were their grandfather’s dependents, and not legally dependent on Nawaz Sharif.
During a hearing that took place earlier on Tuesday, Haris argued that while the investigation officers in all three references are different, the witnesses and their defense is common.
The court on Thursday directed Haris to present the similarities between the three references, including common witnesses and defense, in chart form.
Explaining the similarities, Haris contended that Sharif’s speech in Parliament and his subsequent address to the nation is a common piece of evidence in all three cases.
Similarly, he added that the sources of income chart in the Joint Investigation Team’s (JIT) report and television interviews given by Sharif’s sons, Hasan and Hussain Nawaz, are also common pieces of evidence in the three cases.
The hearing has been adjourned until Monday.
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Sharif’s counsel argues for new judge to hear remaining corruption references
Sharif’s counsel argues for new judge to hear remaining corruption references
- Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was convicted on July 6 in Avenfield case while the other two references against him — Al-Azizia Steel Mill and Flagship Investment Limited — are pending judgment
- Sharif’s counsel, Khawaja Haris asked the court to move the remaining corruption references to another accountability court for fair hearing since the incumbent judge has already convicted Sharif in one case
Campaigning starts for Bangladesh’s first national election after Hasina’s ouster
DHAKA: Campaigning began Thursday for Bangladesh’s first national elections since the 2024 uprising that ousted longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The major political parties held campaign rallies in the capital, Dhaka, and elsewhere ahead of Feb. 12 election, which is seen as the most consequential in Bangladesh’s history as it follows Hasina’s ouster and is being held under an interim government with voters also deciding on proposed political reforms.
The interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus has pledged to hold a free and fair election, but questions were raised after his administration banned Hasina’s former ruling Awami League party. The Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party have historically dominated the country’s electorate.
There are also concerns about the country’s law and order situation, but the government says they will keep the voting peaceful.
Yunus assumed office three days after Hasina left the country for India on Aug. 5, 2024, following the deaths of hundreds of protesters and others in a violent crackdown.
With the Awami League excluded from the election, a 10-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist party, is seeking to expand its influence. Jamaat-e-Islami has long faced criticism from secular groups who say its positions challenge Bangladesh’s secular foundations. A new party formed by student leaders of the uprising, the National Citizen Party, or NCP, is also part of the alliance.
Tarique Rahman, BNP chairman and the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is widely seen as a leading contender for prime minister. His party has drawn strong support rooted in the political legacy of his mother, who died last month. Rahman returned to Bangladesh last month after 17 years in exile in the United Kingdom.
Rahman launched his campaign in the northeastern city of Sylhet with an address to thousands of supporters at a rally Thursday. He is scheduled to visit several other districts in the coming days.
In Sylhet, Rahman criticized the Jamaat-e-Islami party for using religious sentiment to get votes. He said that if elected, he would uphold national sovereignty and work for women and young people.
“Now we must establish the right to vote, rebuild the nation, and make it economically self-reliant,” he said.
Jamaat-e-Islami and the NCP began their campaigns in the capital, Dhaka.
“There are terrorism (crimes), extortion, corruption and forcible possession, (our fight) is against them to establish a just Bangladesh, and alongside to build a safe Dhaka for women and children,” said Nasiruddin Patwari, a leader of the National Citizen Party.
The election will also include a referendum on a national charter, with the interim government seeking voter support for what it describes as a new political course built on reforms. The charter was signed last year by 25 of the country’s 52 registered political parties. The Awami League opposed the idea and several other parties declined to sign the document.
Rahman’s return has reenergized his supporters.
“Under his leadership, in the coming time we want to see a self-reliant Bangladesh and organizing this country through a democratic process,” said Ali Akbar Rajan, a BNP supporter, at Rahman’s rally in Sylhet. “He will emerge as a successful statesman, that is what we hope for,“
The July National Charter, named after the uprising that began in July 2024 and led to the fall of Hasina, is currently nonbinding. Supporters of the charter say a referendum is needed to make it legally binding and a part of the constitution. Only Parliament can change the constitution in Bangladesh.
The interim government says the charter would bring more checks and balances to avoid authoritarian administrations, including by giving the presidency more authority to balance what had been a powerful prime minister position. It also proposes term limits for legislators, and measures to prevent conflicts of interest, money laundering and corruption.
The major political parties held campaign rallies in the capital, Dhaka, and elsewhere ahead of Feb. 12 election, which is seen as the most consequential in Bangladesh’s history as it follows Hasina’s ouster and is being held under an interim government with voters also deciding on proposed political reforms.
The interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus has pledged to hold a free and fair election, but questions were raised after his administration banned Hasina’s former ruling Awami League party. The Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party have historically dominated the country’s electorate.
There are also concerns about the country’s law and order situation, but the government says they will keep the voting peaceful.
Yunus assumed office three days after Hasina left the country for India on Aug. 5, 2024, following the deaths of hundreds of protesters and others in a violent crackdown.
With the Awami League excluded from the election, a 10-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist party, is seeking to expand its influence. Jamaat-e-Islami has long faced criticism from secular groups who say its positions challenge Bangladesh’s secular foundations. A new party formed by student leaders of the uprising, the National Citizen Party, or NCP, is also part of the alliance.
Tarique Rahman, BNP chairman and the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is widely seen as a leading contender for prime minister. His party has drawn strong support rooted in the political legacy of his mother, who died last month. Rahman returned to Bangladesh last month after 17 years in exile in the United Kingdom.
Rahman launched his campaign in the northeastern city of Sylhet with an address to thousands of supporters at a rally Thursday. He is scheduled to visit several other districts in the coming days.
In Sylhet, Rahman criticized the Jamaat-e-Islami party for using religious sentiment to get votes. He said that if elected, he would uphold national sovereignty and work for women and young people.
“Now we must establish the right to vote, rebuild the nation, and make it economically self-reliant,” he said.
Jamaat-e-Islami and the NCP began their campaigns in the capital, Dhaka.
“There are terrorism (crimes), extortion, corruption and forcible possession, (our fight) is against them to establish a just Bangladesh, and alongside to build a safe Dhaka for women and children,” said Nasiruddin Patwari, a leader of the National Citizen Party.
The election will also include a referendum on a national charter, with the interim government seeking voter support for what it describes as a new political course built on reforms. The charter was signed last year by 25 of the country’s 52 registered political parties. The Awami League opposed the idea and several other parties declined to sign the document.
Rahman’s return has reenergized his supporters.
“Under his leadership, in the coming time we want to see a self-reliant Bangladesh and organizing this country through a democratic process,” said Ali Akbar Rajan, a BNP supporter, at Rahman’s rally in Sylhet. “He will emerge as a successful statesman, that is what we hope for,“
The July National Charter, named after the uprising that began in July 2024 and led to the fall of Hasina, is currently nonbinding. Supporters of the charter say a referendum is needed to make it legally binding and a part of the constitution. Only Parliament can change the constitution in Bangladesh.
The interim government says the charter would bring more checks and balances to avoid authoritarian administrations, including by giving the presidency more authority to balance what had been a powerful prime minister position. It also proposes term limits for legislators, and measures to prevent conflicts of interest, money laundering and corruption.
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