The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has decided to evaluate the appeal filed by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif challenging his conviction in the Al-Azizia reference.
Court Rejects NAB’s Request for Remand, Chooses to Hear Case on Merit
A division bench, headed by Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb, rejected the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) plea to send the appeal back to the accountability court and opted to proceed with a detailed examination.
Presence of Nawaz Sharif and Legal Team in Court
The PML-N supremo, accompanied by his legal team, made a court appearance during the hearing.
Background on Al-Azizia Reference and Previous Sentencing
On December 24, 2018, the accountability court sentenced Nawaz Sharif to seven years in jail and imposed a fine of 2.5 million pounds in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference.
Nawaz’s Appeal and NAB’s Position
Nawaz submitted an appeal against the accountability court’s decision, seeking annulment of the imprisonment and fine. The NAB argued for an enhanced sentence, but the bench decided to consider the case on its merits.
Recent IHC Developments and Acquittal in Avenfield Apartments Reference
During the last hearing on November 29, the IHC accepted Nawaz’s appeal and acquitted him in the Avenfield Apartments reference. The NAB withdrew its appeal against his acquittal in the Flagship reference.
Supreme Court’s Ruling and Nawaz’s Overseas Treatment
On July 28, 2017, the Supreme Court disqualified Nawaz Sharif, leading to NAB filing Avenfield, Al-Azizia Steel Mills, and Flagship references. Nawaz, diagnosed with an immune system disorder during his Al-Azizia sentence, was allowed to travel abroad for treatment.
Nawaz’s Proclaimed Offender Status and Return to Pakistan
In December 2020, Nawaz was declared a “proclaimed offender” for not returning to the country. After obtaining protective bail, he returned to Pakistan in October of the following year, surrendering before the court and having his appeals restored.
