Daily Times

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has set January 21 as the date for hearing the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) appeals against Nawaz Sharif in Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship corruption references.

A two-member divisional bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani will take up the appeals challenging the verdicts of an accountability court in Al-Azizia and Flagship references against the former premier.

Nawaz was sentenced to seven years in prison by the accountability court in Al-Azizia reference and fined Rs1.5 billion, in a verdict announced on December 24. However, he was acquitted in the Flagship corruption reference.

NAB to challenge Nawaz’s acquittal in Flagship reference and term of sentence in Al-Azizia

In its appeal against Nawaz’s acquittal in the Flagship reference, NAB has contended that the court’s verdict was against the law and the verdict should have been announced in light of the evidence presented. In its other appeal, the anti-corruption watchdog has argued that Nawaz was found guilty with all charges proven against him; therefore, the seven-year sentence awarded in the Al-Azizia reference is not enough and should be increased.

The NAB’s appeals will be heard along with the appeal filed by former prime minister against his jail term in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference.

Nawaz has already filed an appeal in IHC against the verdict and also submitted a petition seeking suspension of the sentence.

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed NAB’s appeal against the suspension of the Sharif family’s sentences in the Avenfield reference. A five-member bench led by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar upheld IHC’s verdict that had ordered suspension of prison sentences awarded to Nawaz and his daughter Maryam in the corruption reference.

Published in Daily Times, January 16^th 2019.