IHC to hear Nawaz Sharif’s appeal against conviction in Al-Azizia reference on Oct 29

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear the appeal of former premier Nawaz Sharif against his conviction in the Al-Azizia reference on October 29. A two-member bench comprising of Justice Aamir Farooq and Mohsin Akhtar Kayani will hear the plea. The court will also hear the NAB’s appeal to enhance the sentence of Nawaz Sharif the same day. Nawaz Sharif has filed an application for relief in the case in the background of the judge video scandal. On Dec 24, 2018, Accountability Judge Muhammad Arshad Malik had awarded Nawaz Sharif seven years imprisonment besides fines of Rs1.5 billion and $25 million in the Al-Azizia reference. The Supreme Court had on July 28, 2017, while deciding petitions of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and other political leaders, disqualified Nawaz Sharif and directed the NAB to file three references — Avenfield Properties, Al-Azizia and Flagship Investment — against him and other members of his family in the accountability court. On July 6, 2018, Accountability Court Judge Mohammad Bashir had convicted Nawaz Sharif in the Avenfield reference and sentenced him to 10 years in prison. However, an IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb suspended the sentence in the Avenfield reference.