SC gives three weeks to wrap up Al-Azizia, Flagship references

This is the seventh extension granted to the accountability court

LAHORE: The Supreme Court has set a three-week deadline to wrap up proceedings in Al-Azizia and Flagship corruption references against Nawaz Sharif and his sons filed by the National Accountability Bureau.

The case is currently being heard by a single-bench comprising Judge Arshad Malik of an accountability court in Islamabad.



The decision comes following a request submitted by the accountability court on November 16 seeking yet another extension to conclude remaining corruption cases against the former premier.

In the letter addressed to the SC registrar, Judge Malik said although the trial was near conclusion, it would still be unable to meet the top court's deadline.

In October, the apex court had granted sixth extension to the accountability court. Chief Justice Saqib Nisar had warned that the judge would be held responsible if the case was not decided within the deadline.



The anti-graft watchdog had filed three references against the Sharif family in light of the Supreme Court's July 28, 2017 judgment in Panamagate case. The verdict had disqualified Nawaz.

In July, an accountability court concluded the Avenfield reference and sentenced Nawaz to a total of eleven years in prison and imposed a £8 million fine in the corruption reference, Maryam was sentenced to eight years with a £2 million fine while son in law Captain (retd) Safdar was given a one-year sentence.