ISLAMABAD: The accountability court hearing three corruption references against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif approved on Monday Nawaz's exemption apperance plea. 

The former premier had asked the court for a change in the dates of his exemption from appearance. Nawaz now is exempted from appearing in court from December 5 till 12. 

However, Judge Mohammad Bashir dismissed Nawaz's daughter Maryam's request to change her appearance exemption dates, stating that the court's earlier ruling on the matter will prevail.

The court had allowed Maryam to be exempted from appearance from November 15 until December 15. 

The court made the decisions when it resumed proceedings after adjourning for a brief period earlier today. 

Later, the hearing into the Al Azizia Steel Mills, Avenfield and Flagship eferences was then adjourned until tomorrow. 

As the hearing began Monday morning, Nawaz, accompanied by Maryam, appeared in court. Nawaz's son-in-law, MNA Capt (retd) Safdar, also appeared before the court.

The hearing was adjourned after Nawaz's counsel, Khawaja Harris, informed the judge that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) will announce around noon today its decision on their plea to club the three corruption references against Nawaz. 

Harris pleaded the court to adjourn the hearing until the high court's decision. Judge Mohammad Bashir then adjourned the hearing until 1pm today. 

The hearing then resumed following the IHC order rejecting Nawaz's pleas. As the hearing began once more, Harris informed the judge that Nawaz will appear in court in a couple of hours. 

The judge then directed NAB witness Malik Tayyab Ahmed to record his statement. Ahmed, an employee of a private bank, also presented details of Nawaz's bank accounts and transactions. 

Later, the former premier arrived once more in court alongside his daughter after which the hearing was adjourned. 

Talking to reporters after leaving the courtroom in the morning, Nawaz quipped that it seems he will face punishment for the disqualification case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders Imran Khan and Jahangir Tareen. 

Nawaz is facing three corruption references in the accountability court filed by NAB in light of the Supreme Court's July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case which led to his disqualification.

Nawaz and his sons Hussain and Hasan are named in all three references whereas Maryam and Safdar are only named in one corruption reference. 

At the last hearing on November 28, the court had not conducted any proceedings due to the absence of the defence counsel.

Nawaz, Maryam and Safdar had, however, appeared before the court.

The references

The NAB has in total filed three references against the Sharif family and another against the then-Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the accountability court, in light of the Supreme Court's orders in the Panama Papers case verdict of July 28.

The anti-graft body was given six weeks, from the date of the apex court's order, to file the reference in an accountability court while the accountability court was granted six months to wrap up the proceedings.

The references against the Sharif family pertain to the Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metals Establishment, their London properties, and over dozen offshore companies owned by the family.

Maryam and Safdar are only nominated in the London properties reference. At an earlier hearing, the court also approved Maryam and Safdar's bail in the Avenfield properties case and ordered them to submit surety bonds worth Rs5 million each.

Safdar was also directed to take the court's permission before leaving the country from now on. The judge also provided a copy of the reference — spread over 53 volumes — to Maryam and Safdar.

NAB's Rawalpindi branch prepared two references regarding the Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metals Establishment, and the nearly dozen companies owned by the Sharif family.

Its Lahore branch prepared a reference on the Sharif family's Avenfield apartments in London and another against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for owning assets beyond his known sources of income.

If convicted, the accused may face up to 14 years imprisonment and lifelong disqualification from holding public office including the freezing of bank accounts and assets.