Al-Azizia case: IHC seeks reply from NAB within two weeks

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Hearings of different petitions filed by former premier Nawaz Sharif, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday sought a reply from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Al-Azizia Reference and Judge Arshad Malik video case within two weeks. In the petition, Nawaz Sharif had asked the court to review his sentencing in the Al-Azizia case in light of new information that had come to light. During the hearing, former premier’s counsel Khawaja Haris took the position that the court should establish facts of the case before proceeding further. Khawaja Haris further said that the court also needed to decide whether the previous bench had conducted a fair trial into the Al-Azizia reference against his client. IHC judge Justice Mohsin Akhtar Siddique remarked that the court would look into the overall matter after the verdict had been issued had any bearing on the court verdict. The IHC also issued a notice to the NAB in this regard, and afterwards postponed proceedings into the case for two weeks. Later, the court postponed proceedings into a petition pertaining to the Al-Azizia Reference. Speaking to the journalists, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the controversial video of former accountability court judge Arshad Malik proved innocence of Nawaz Sharif. “Today a ‘selected prime minister’ appointed on the nation,” she added. Marriyum Aurangzeb further mentioned that the employments including businesses are closed in the country when raised questions over the current situation, the government asked to talk only Kashmir issue. It is pertinent to mention here that this case was highlighted after alleged video scandal. This will be the first hearing on the petitions since leaked videos of former accountability court judge Arshad Malik emerged. Lawyers for the former premier have filed a miscellaneous application for his bail, which will also be heard. A copy of former accountability court judge Arshad Malik’s statement on oath has also been annexed with the petition. The former premier was convicted in the Al-Azizia reference by the accountability court for seven years. Earlier, the high court had dismissed a plea seeking release of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on medical grounds. Nawaz Sharif is currently serving a jail term of 7-years at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore on being proven guilty in Al-Azizia reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).