Al-Azizia reference: IHC takes up Nawaz, NAB appeals today

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear the appeal of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif Thursday (today) against the seven-year jail sentence in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference.

The court will also hold a hearing on NAB’s appeal to increase Nawaz Sharif’s sentence in the Al-Azizia reference. A division bench, consisting of Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb, will conduct the hearing.

On December 24, 2018, the accountability court had sentenced Nawaz Sharif to seven years in jail and a fine of 2.5 million pounds in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference. Nawaz Sharif has submitted an appeal against the decision of the accountability court, requesting the court to annul the decision of imprisonment and fine.

The NAB has taken the stand in the appeal that the accountability court awarded a lesser sentence and it should be enhanced.

The hearing will start at 2pm. Special passes will be issued by the Registrar’s Office for entering the courtroom.

The Islamabad High Court had accepted the appeal of Nawaz Sharif and acquitted him in the Avenfield Apartments reference. The NAB withdrew its appeal from the high court against the acquittal of Nawaz Sharif in the Flagship reference.

On July 28, 2017, the Supreme Court disqualified former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Panama Papers case and ordered NAB to file Avenfield, Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship references.