The Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted acquittal to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Supreme Leadaer Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference on Tuesday.
The decision delivered against the accountability court’s 2018 verdict, which sentenced the former prime minister to seven years in jail and imposed a fine of 2.5 million pounds in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case.
Nawaz Sharif had filed an appeal against the accountability court’s decision, seeking the annulment of imprisonment, fine, and conviction.
This is another relief to Nawaz Shairf as he was previously cleared in the Avenfield Apartments reference last month. These developments contribute positively to his political standing.
This favorable ruling not only brings relief to Sharif but also boosts his chances of vying for the position of prime minister in the upcoming elections scheduled for February 8, 2024.
The primary obstacle to his candidacy remains a lifetime disqualification as a parliamentarian, a hurdle that the PML-N is optimistic about overcoming since the previous government did a legislation in the Election Act to limit the disqualification term to 5 years.
The apex court already formed a larger bench to decide whether the disqualified politician under Article 62(1)(f) can contest polls in light of the amendments in the Elections Act, 2017.
During the today’s hearing at the Islamabad High Court, a two-member divisional bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb presided over Sharif’s appeal.
Wajid Zia, the prosecution’s key witness, acknowledged the absence of evidence proving Sharif’s children were dependent on him.
The court questioned the basis for shifting the burden of proof onto Sharif.
Advocate Amjad Pervez, Sharif’s legal counsel, argued that evidence from one case should not be applied to another, emphasizing the prosecution’s responsibility to establish the value of Sharif’s income and assets.
The court rejected NAB’s request to remand the case back to the trial court. Justice Farooq directed the NAB prosecutor to present facts and link them to the case based on merit.
