IHC admits NAB appeals against Al-Azizia, Flagship verdict
Nawaz's counsel to refile appeal seeking interim relief
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) registrar office on Friday admitted National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) appeals challenging accountability court verdicts in Al-Azizia and Flagship corruption references.
The former premier was convicted by the accountability court in Al-Azizia corruption and awarded seven years imprisonment and a fine of Rs1.5 billion. He was acquitted in the Flagship corruption case.
The registrar office had earlier returned NAB's requests after raising objections. In its appeal against the Al-Azizia verdict, the anti-graft body seeks an increase in Nawaz Sharif's imprisonment sentence. It also challenges Nawaz's acquittal in Flagship reference.
Meanwhile, the former premier's counsel will re-file appeal seeking interim relief. The registrar office had returned the former premier’s request citing reservations.
Full text of accountability court’s judgment in Al-Azizia reference case
The judgment
The Al Azizia verdict said that the accused No 1 (Nawaz Sharif) was held guilty for the offence of corruption and corrupt practices and accordingly, is convicted under section 10 of the NAO 1999 ‘read with schedule thereto’.
“And consequent upon his conviction, having regard to the facts and the circumstances of the case, the convict is hereby sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for a term of seven years along with a fine of Rs1.2 billion and $25 million,” said the order.
According to the judgement, Sharif is disqualified to hold any public office for a period of ten years. Likewise, he will not be allowed to apply for or be granted or allowed any financial facilities in the form of loan or advances or other financial accommodation by any bank or financial institution owned or controlled by the government for a period of 10 years from the date.
Nawaz found guilty in Al-Azizia reference, acquitted in Flagship
The corruption references filed against Sharif family ensuing Panamagate verdict
The Supreme Court on July 28, 2016, disqualified Nawaz in the Panama Papers case and ordered NAB to file separate cases which were respectively called Avenfiled, Al Azizia and Flagship references.
Earlier this year, an accountability court had convicted the former premier, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar Awan in Avenfield reference and sentenced them to 10, seven and one year of rigorous imprisonment.
The sentence was later suspended by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The high court had observed that the accountability court verdict was based on “prima facie, tentative opinion”. It found NAB to have failed to prove the corruption charges.
“The petitioners were alleged to have acquired Avenfield Apartments by corrupt, dishonest or illegal means.” Yet, the accountability court in its judgment held that “Prosecution has not brought evidence in respect of Section 9 (a)(iv) NAO, 1999][4]. So the accused are acquitted under that section of law”
The petition filed by NAB challenging the IHC decision is currently being heard by an apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) registrar office on Friday admitted National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) appeals challenging accountability court verdicts in Al-Azizia and Flagship corruption references.
The former premier was convicted by the accountability court in Al-Azizia corruption and awarded seven years imprisonment and a fine of Rs1.5 billion. He was acquitted in the Flagship corruption case.
The registrar office had earlier returned NAB's requests after raising objections. In its appeal against the Al-Azizia verdict, the anti-graft body seeks an increase in Nawaz Sharif's imprisonment sentence. It also challenges Nawaz's acquittal in Flagship reference.
Meanwhile, the former premier's counsel will re-file appeal seeking interim relief. The registrar office had returned the former premier’s request citing reservations.
Full text of accountability court’s judgment in Al-Azizia reference case
The judgment
The Al Azizia verdict said that the accused No 1 (Nawaz Sharif) was held guilty for the offence of corruption and corrupt practices and accordingly, is convicted under section 10 of the NAO 1999 ‘read with schedule thereto’.
“And consequent upon his conviction, having regard to the facts and the circumstances of the case, the convict is hereby sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for a term of seven years along with a fine of Rs1.2 billion and $25 million,” said the order.
According to the judgement, Sharif is disqualified to hold any public office for a period of ten years. Likewise, he will not be allowed to apply for or be granted or allowed any financial facilities in the form of loan or advances or other financial accommodation by any bank or financial institution owned or controlled by the government for a period of 10 years from the date.
Nawaz found guilty in Al-Azizia reference, acquitted in Flagship
The corruption references filed against Sharif family ensuing Panamagate verdict
The Supreme Court on July 28, 2016, disqualified Nawaz in the Panama Papers case and ordered NAB to file separate cases which were respectively called Avenfiled, Al Azizia and Flagship references.
Earlier this year, an accountability court had convicted the former premier, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar Awan in Avenfield reference and sentenced them to 10, seven and one year of rigorous imprisonment.
The sentence was later suspended by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The high court had observed that the accountability court verdict was based on “prima facie, tentative opinion”. It found NAB to have failed to prove the corruption charges.
“The petitioners were alleged to have acquired Avenfield Apartments by corrupt, dishonest or illegal means.” Yet, the accountability court in its judgment held that “Prosecution has not brought evidence in respect of Section 9 (a)(iv) NAO, 1999][4]. So the accused are acquitted under that section of law”
The petition filed by NAB challenging the IHC decision is currently being heard by an apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar.