IHC adjourns Nawaz's appeals against graft convictions till Wednesday

NAB had no option except to file references, says Nawaz's counsel in court

ISLAMABAD:

The counsel for PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif on Monday informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had no option except to file references against PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.

The statement by the counsel, Amjad Pervaiz, came during the hearing of Nawaz's appeals against his convictions in the Avenfield Apartments and Al-Azizia corruption cases.

The division bench was presided over by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq today along with Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb.

It was further stated that the accountability court had been given a period of six months to pass judgment on the reference. The aforementioned cases were filed by NAB on the order of the Supreme Court.

Pervaiz argued that the Panama Papers Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was formed by the SC and that the JIT submitted their report to the apex court on July 10, 2017. He further stated that on July 28, then-premier Nawaz Sharif was disqualified and the SC ordered NAB to file a reference within six weeks of its verdict.

Read IHC to hear Nawaz’s conviction appeals today

He further stated that a reference of Avenfield Apartments was filed against Nawaz, Maryam Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz, Hasan Nawaz and retired Captain Safdar, and in the light of the verdict by the SC, Al Azizia Steel Mills reference was subsequently filed against Nawaz, Hussain and Hasan Nawaz.

Pervaiz also reminded the court that NAB had filed an appeal to have Nawaz’s sentence in the Al Azizia case increased.

On July 28, 2017, Nawaz was disqualified by the Supreme Court for hiding the salary that he was entitled to as a director, while bearing the office of the prime minister, at one of his sons' companies. These details were mentioned in his nomination papers which he submitted ahead of the 2013 general elections.

He was later also convicted in the Al Azizia Steel Mills corruption case on December 24, 2018. Following the judgment of an accountability court, the former prime minister was awarded seven years in jail with Rs1.5 billion and US $25 million. Back then, NAB had filed an appeal to have Nawaz’s sentence increased.

The court adjourned the hearing till Wednesday, November 29.

Al-Azizia reference

The Al Azizia reference pertains to the Nawaz being unable to justify the source of funds provided to set up Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment (HME) in Saudi Arabia which turned the reference into assets beyond means case.

Read more Nawaz found guilty in Al-Azizia reference, acquitted in Flagship

The court ordered to forfeit the properties, assets, rights, receivables and interests of both investments to the federal government of Pakistan “which shall forthwith approach the Government of KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), so as to implement and give effect to the said forfeiture”.

Avenfield Apartments reference

Similarly, on July 6, 2017, the PML-N leader was awarded 10 years in jail in the Avenfield properties corruption reference for owning assets beyond means. The case pertains to the ownership of four flats in Avenfield House, Park Lane, London through illegitimate sources of income.

Read further Guilty as charged: Sharifs pay heavily for Avenfield flats

The former premier’s children, Maryam, Hasan and Hussain Nawaz were also found guilty. Maryam Nawaz was sentenced to imprisonment for seven years for being “instrumental in the concealment of the properties of her father" and for not cooperating with NAB.