ISLAMABAD: Wajid Zia, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Additional Director, recorded his statement on Thursday (today) in the Al Azizia reference against deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family members.
As the hearing began under Accountability Court-I Judge Mohammad Bashir, Joint Investigation Team (JIT) head Wajid Zia informed the accountability court that on April 20, he had been working as an Additional Director FIA and the Supreme Court announced the decision to form JIT in order to probe cases against Sharifs. “On Supreme Court’s order, names were finalized for the JIT and I was designated as JIT head”, he said.
Zia told the accountability court about the directives given by the apex court to the JIT for carrying out probe into Sharif family’s assets. “Supreme Court questioned the JIT regarding the details of the establishment and the sale of Gulf Steel Mill, authenticity of the letter by Qatari Prince Hamad bin Jassim and information of gifts, worth billions, given to Hussain Nawaz by his father,” Zia added.
Wajid Zia also shed light on how the assets were shifted from Qatar to England and Saudi Arabia.
“We were tasked to investigate the ownership of Sharif family’s assets and submit a final report on the matter in 60 days. On July 10, 2017, JIT report was presented before the apex court,” Zia stated.
The court, later, adjourned the hearing of Al Azizia reference till tomorrow (Friday).
Zia has already testified in the Avenfield properties reference.
During Avenfield case hearing, on Wednesday, Judge Mohammad Bashir had observed that the decisions on all three references will be given together.
In the light of Supreme Court’s Panama case verdict, last year, National Accountability Court (NAB) filed references against Sharif family and since then Nawaz and family have been facing the trials in three corruption cases.
 Additional Director, recorded his statement today (Thursday) in the Al Azizia reference against deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.){kind=link}