Nawaz’s review plea referred to IHC Chief Justice

Next hearing to be held next month


Our Correspondent ​ December 18, 2019
Islamabad High Court. PHOTO COURTESY: IHC WEBSITE

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday referred former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s review plea against the accountability court verdict in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case to IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah.

The formal premier had filed the appeal following the video scandal pertaining to accountability court judge Arshad Malik.
The next hearing will be held after courts resume in January.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo is currently in London receiving medical treatment for various ailments. He flew to the British capital after the Lahore High Court (LHC) directed the federal government to remove his name from the Exit Control List (ECL) for four weeks.

Prior to that, Nawaz was granted eight-week bail on medical grounds by the Islamabad High Court on October 27.

IHC to hear Nawaz’s appeal against Al-Azizia reference on Dec 18

Nawaz was sentenced seven-year imprisonment and fined Rs1.5billion and $25 million by accountability judge Arshad Malik in the Al Azizia reference. He was also disqualified from holding public office for 10 years. He was, however, acquitted in the Flagship reference.

In a press conference in July, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz had shared a video containing an alleged confession by the judge that he was ‘pressurised’ and ‘blackmailed’ to give a decision against the former premier.

Following the revelation, several petitions were filed in the top court requesting the court to form a probe committee or a judicial commission to investigate the matter.

It is pertinent to note that Malik denied the allegations in a letter to the chief justice of the IHC.

The judge had on Dec 24 last year convicted Nawaz in the Al-Azizia reference but acquitted him in the Flagship Investment reference.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo is currently in London receiving medical treatment for various ailments. He flew to the British capital after the Lahore High Court directed the federal government to remove his name from the Exit Control List for four weeks. Prior to that, Nawaz was granted eight-week bail on medical grounds by the Islamabad High Court on October 27.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ