ISLAMABAD – Islamabad High Court on Tuesday acquitted Pakistan Muslim League chief Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia case.
The divisional bench led by Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Gul Hassan Aurangzeb announced brief verdict. The court also turned down National Accountability Bureau’s plea to send case back to the trial court and heard the case on merits.
The former premier appeared in person before the court along with his council. During Tuesday’s hearing, Nawaz council took to rostrum and said he wanted to argue for his client. The two-member bench then inquired if National Accountability Bureau proven anything regarding Sharif’s dependents.
The counsel apprised the court that Wajid Zia admitted that there was no evidence related to PML-N leader’s dependants, and pointed out that defence raised objection in front of the trial court.
Sharif counsel said no single application proved PML-N was owner of these assets, and reminded the court that the trial court had relied on a TV interview of Nawaz’s son.
PML-N supremo was sentenced to 7 years in prison in the case five years back. The court then slapped him with fine of Rs1.5 billion.
Sharif, 73, was convicted by the accountability court in Avenfield and Al-Azizia references, however, last 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.
In 2019, Nawaz’s sentence in Al-Azizia reference was suspended by the LHC on medical grounds, and he then departed to fly to London on medical grounds.
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