ISLAMABAD: Accountability court on Thursday has indicted ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, and son-in-law Capt (retd) Safdar in the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) Avenfield reference against them.

During the hearing headed by Justice Muhammad Bashir, Maryam and Safdar were present in court but Nawaz Sharif sent a representative as he is in London for the treatment of his ailing wife. Ousted PM’s lawyer submitted a petition to stop indictment proceedings until the decision of Supreme Court (SC) on the plea to merge all cases in one.

Maryam Nawaz and Captain (r) Safdar also requested to not indict them as they have not been given any documents including volume X of Panama Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report upon which NAB prosecutor said that the accused were provided with copy of the reference and witnesses about 10 days ago.

After initially reserving its verdict, the court rejected their petitions over which second lawyer from Nawaz Sharif’s legal team, Ayesha Hamid, filed an application seeking a delay in his indictment.

Subsequently, the court indicted them but the accused denied all allegations, terming them as baseless and false. Maryam Nawaz said that they have been indicted over incomplete and controversial report.

The judge said that assets were made illegally in London, fake trust deed was submitted whereas illicitly Calibri font was used.

Talking to media outside the court, Maryam Nawaz said that sentenced was given before trial. She said that Nawaz Sharif will arrive in Pakistan in coming week. She also appealed the nation to pray for fast recovery of her mother Kulsoom Nawaz, who has recently won NA-120 by-poll.

Tight security arrangements were made for today’s hearing as at least 800 police and Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel have been deployed on the security duties.

The court had summoned list of 15 people each from the NAB, the accused and the journalists as not more than 50 people have been allowed to enter the court. However, the security officials are permitted to go inside during the proceedings.

Let it be known that Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Captain (retd) Safdar were to be indicted on October 13, but the case was adjourned till October 19 due to the clash between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawyers and police officers.

Nawaz Sharif was disqualified by the Supreme Court in July for not declaring a source of income that he disputes receiving. Pakistan’s top court also ordered a wide-ranging investigation by the National Accountability Bureau and trial of Sharif family members.