ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has decided to hear Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif’s appeal against his conviction in the Al-Azizia reference on merit.

IHC division bench, consisting of Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb, heard the former premier’s appeal. The same bench had acquitted the former premier in the Avenfield reference on November 29.

The PML-N supremo along with his legal team and other senior leaders appeared in the court. During the hearing today, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) implored the IHC to remand back the appeal to the accountability court which was rejected by the court and announced to hear the matter on merit.

Nawaz Sharif was convicted by the accountability court in Avenfield and Al-Azizia references, however, earlier this week he was acquitted by the IHC in the Avenfield reference. The accountability court had awarded a 10-year jail term with eight million Pounds fine to Nawaz Sharif in the Avenfield case and 7-year sentence in Al-Azizia reference.

He was also fined Rs1.5 billion and US$25 million. The court also disqualified Sharif for holding public office for 10 years. However, in 2019, his sentence in Al-Azizia reference was suspended by the Lahore High Court (LHC) on medical grounds. He was then permitted to fly to London on medical grounds.

The IHC had declared him a proclaimed offender in both cases in December 2020. After returning from the exile in UK, the PML-N leader had filed two separate applications seeking the restoration of his appeals against his conviction in both the references.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 08 2023

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