Al-Azizia reference: IHC to hear Nawaz Sharif’s plea against sentence after winter vacations

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday postponed Nawaz Sharif’s plea against his conviction until after winter vacations. A two-member bench comprising of Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Kayani will hear the appeal. The court also accepted Nawaz Sharif’s application seeking today’s exemption from appearance. The court remarked that they are sending the file to the chief justice for a new division bench. On Jan 1, former premier Nawaz Sharif had filed an appeal in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against his sentence in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference. The appeal filed through his counsel requested the court to nullify the verdict of the accountability court. Nawaz given 7-year sentence in Al-Azizia, acquitted in Flagship reference On December 24, Accountability Court Judge Arshad Malik sentenced former premier Nawaz Sharif to seven years in prison in the Al-Azizia reference case, while acquitted him in the Flagship reference. Detailed judgement of Al-Azizia and Flagship references While reading out the short order, the judge said that there was no case against Nawaz in the Flagship reference. He was indicted under Section 9(a)(v) and Section 10 of the National Accountability Ordinance in the Al-Azizia reference. The court sentenced the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) supremo leader to seven years in prison and ordered him to pay $25million and Rs1.5 billion as fine. In the verdict, the court has imposed fine on the former prime minister for failing to provide money trail. The court also ordered to seize Al-Azizia and Hill Metal property. Meanwhile, the NAB has also filed an appeal against the acquittal of Nawaz Sharif in the Islamabad High Court.