NAB challenges court verdict against Sharifs

IHC returns ex-PM’s appeal in Al-Azizia reference verdict

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday filed appeals in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the verdicts of an accountability court in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investment references against deposed prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

The accountability court on December 24 had sentenced Sharif to seven years rigorous imprisonment along with fine of Rs1.5 billion and $25 million in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference, and acquitted him in the Flagship Investment reference.

NAB, in an appeal, stated that concrete evidences were provided in the Flagship Investment reference and requested the IHC to set aside the decision of the accountability court, which had acquitted the accused by giving him the benefit of doubt. It also pleaded the court to give sentence to the accused on the basis of evidences.



NAB in its second appeal stated that the seven-year jail term given to Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference was not enough and should be increased as per Section 9 (a)(v) of the NAB Ordinance, according to which the punishment for such offense was 14 years imprisonment.

Sharif's counsel Khawaja Haris Tuesday also filed an appeal against the verdict in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference in the IHC.

Meanwhile, the IHC) returned the plea filed by convicted former premier Nawaz Sharif.

The former prime minister has contested the verdict of the accountability court in Al Azizia corruption reference.

The IHC registrar showed reservations and returned the appeal and declared it as incomplete.



The registrar office further directed that the plea be filed after addressing the reservations.

A day earlier, incarcerated former prime minister challenged his conviction in the Al-Azizia reference in the IHC.

Mr Sharif’s lawyer, Khawaja Haris, filed an appeal in the high court, requesting it to set aside his client’s conviction in the graft case filed against him and members of his family by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in pursuance of the Supreme Court’s July 28 verdict.

He also moved a separate petition seeking release of the Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) supremo on bail until the court decides the aforesaid appeal.

Haris argued in the appeal that every Pakistani had right to fair trial. The accountability court didn’t take into account his contention while deciding the case, he claimed. He said his client expected to get justice from the high court.