IHC to hear Nawaz’s plea tomorrow

First hearing since surfacing of controversial video of judge


Saqib Bashir September 17, 2019
Deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will resume hearing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s appeal against the accountability court verdict in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case on Wednesday.

The hearing, which are resuming after close to three months, will be the first since the emergence of a controversial video of Judge Arshad Malik that has raised questions about the impartiality of the verdict.

A two-member division bench comprising Justice Amir Farooq Justice and Justice Mohsin Akhar Kiyani will hear the petitions – including the one filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) – challenging the verdict.

The affidavit and clarification issued by the accountability court judge is enclosed with the petition.

The hearing, last held on June 27, will be held after a lapse of three months owing to incomplete paper books of the case and then the summer holidays taken by judges.

During the course of pending appeals, the Supreme Court granted six-week bail to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo on medical grounds. However, another bail plea also filed by the former prime minister was turned down by Islamabad High Court.

An accountability court had earlier awarded a seven-year prison term along with a fine to Nawaz after convicting him in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference.

In response to the court’s verdict, Nawaz had filed a plea to suspend the sentence while NAB had sought extension in the sentence.

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