'Nawaz given relief due to NAB's stance'

IHC explains he was granted protective bail after top accountability watchdog 'emphatically' refused to arrest him

ISLAMABAD:

PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif was given protective bail due to the National Accountability Bureau's stance of not seeking his arrest, while his appeals against his conviction in the Avenfield Apartments and Al-Azizia references were revived thanks to the Punjab government's decision to suspend his sentence.

In a 16-page written verdict issued by Chief Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, reviving appeals in the Avenfield Apartments and Al-Azizia references, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) stated that Nawaz Sharif's appeals will be decided on their merits.

It explained that the interim relief of not arresting the deposed prime minister was extended by two days, and his protective bail was granted due to NAB's clear and unambiguous stance against his arrest.

“It ought to be borne in mind that these orders were passed after a clear, unequivocal and emphatic position was taken on behalf of NAB that such protection be afforded to the petitioner,” the order read.

It stated that the said orders dated October 19 and October 24 were passed with the consent of the deputy prosecutor general NAB and prosecutor general NAB, respectively.

The prosecutor general NAB was equally clear, unequivocal, and emphatic in his submission made on Oct 24 as well as Oct 26, that the accountability watchdog had no intention to arrest the petitioner, the ruling added.

The ruling also cited the Punjab government suspended Nawaz's sentence in the Al-Azizia reference under Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The court also highlighted that Nawaz Sharif was not arrested upon his return home thanks to the interim relief from the court on October 19.

Earlier this month, the IHC had granted Nawaz Sharif protective bail until October 24 in both the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases. This came after the former prime minister had spent time in jail after being convicted in the Avenfield properties corruption reference in July 2018.

Following his release in March 2019, Nawaz Sharif left for London in November 2019 on medical grounds. In December 2020, the IHC declared him a proclaimed offender in both cases. Recently, after nearly four years in London, Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan and was granted protective bail in both cases.

The IHC then extended this protective bail until October 26. Later, the IHC restored the PML-N leader’s appeals against his conviction in the Avenfield Apartments and Al-Azizia references.

On the same day, the Punjab government approved the suspension of his sentence in the Al-Azizia reference.

It is pertinent to note that during the proceedings on October 26, when the chief justice asked whether NAB wanted Nawaz Sharif's arrest, the NAB prosecutor-general replied that they did not want it at all and there was no court order to arrest him in any decision.