Accountability Court Judge Arshad Malik heard the Al Azizia reference against the former premier.

As the hearing went under way, defence counsel Khawaja Haris informed the court that Nawaz's wife Begum Kulsoom had passed away.

Khawaja Haris said that Nawaz had been taken to Lahore on parole after Begum Kulsoom's death.

Haris said he had not received instructions to continue with the proceedings in his client's absence.

Judge Malik then remarked that Begum Kulsoom was a national figure and it was not appropriate to continue with the proceedings today.

The hearing was then adjourned until Thursday.