The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday delayed hearing of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s writ petition with regard to suspension of his jail term. A two-member bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aamer Farooq heard the case. The PML-N supremo represented by Khawaja Harris sought his release in the Al-Azizia case. It is pertinent to note that the ousted PM was acquitted in the Flagship Investment case. After hearing arguments from Sharif’s counsel, the court said it would release an appropriate order in the case soon. On January 5, the counsel for Sharif re-submitted an appeal in the IHC against the accountability court verdict sentencing Sharif in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case. The first appeal was filed by the Sharif’s counsel on Jan 1 but the registrar office returned it after raising objections. Whereas on January 3, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) moved two appeals in the IHC, challenging the accountability court verdict in the Al-Azizia and Flagship Investment references against Sharif. The anti-graft watchdog pleaded to increase the sentence awarded to Sharif in the Al-Azizia case and overturn his acquittal in the Flagship reference. Published in Daily Times, January 8th 2019.