ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear the appeals of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif against his conviction by the accountability courts in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia reference today (November 21), exactly one month after his return from self-exile in London.
The pleas against the accountability courts verdicts in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases were restored earlier after Nawaz’s arrival from abroad. Nawaz has been in self-exile in London since 2019 as he left Pakistan for London in the middle of his seven-year jail term on medical grounds. The elder Sharif returned to Pakistan on October 21.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Gul Hassan Aurangzeb announced the verdict on Nawaz Sharif’s pleas against his conviction in Al-Azizia and Avenfield cases. In his arguments before the IHC, the NAB Prosecutor said pleas once filed cannot be withdrawn and a decision on them has to be made on merit.
Nawaz Sharif was convicted by accountability courts in Avenfield and Al-Azizia references. The accountability court had awarded 10-year jail term with 8m Pounds fine to Nawaz Sharif in Avenfield case and 7 years sentence in Al-Azizia case. The court also disqualified Nawaz Sharif for holding public office for 10 years.
However, in 2019, his sentence in Al-Azizia reference was suspended by the Lahore High Court on medical grounds and he was permitted to fly to London for medical treatment.
