ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has stated that the relief granted to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was a result of the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) decision not to arrest him.
On October 19, the IHC approved a two-day protective bail for Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia and Avenfield corruption cases. On October 26, the court also reinstated Nawaz’s appeals against his convictions in these cases and granted him bail.
In their detailed verdict, the court explained that they restored Nawaz Sharif’s appeals because NAB did not object to his plea.
The court cited the clear and unambiguous stance of the NAB prosecutor, who did not oppose the restoration of the appeals. Consequently, the court allowed the applications and restored the appeals, which will be heard and decided on their merits.
In a separate 16-page verdict, the divisional bench explained the decision to approve the two-day protective bail for Nawaz Sharif. They emphasized that this decision was made after NAB expressed its clear intention not to arrest the former prime minister.
Nawaz Sharif, who returned to Pakistan after a four-year self-imposed exile, has received various legal reliefs in cases such as Avenfield, Al-Azizia, and Toshakhana. The Punjab government also suspended his conviction in the Al-Azizia reference, and his arrest warrant was suspended in the Toshakhana case due to NAB’s lack of objections.
However, these legal reliefs have drawn criticism from political opponents, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Nawaz Sharif had been sentenced to jail in the Avenfield properties corruption case and the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case but was later released and traveled to London for medical treatment in 2019. The IHC had declared him a proclaimed offender in both cases in December 2020.
CJP Qazi Isa Says Allegations Of Absar Alam Are Very Serious
Meanwhile, the CJP stated this on Wednesday during hearing of the review appeal of Faizabad sit-in case.
Chief Justice also said that the court wanted to find out the mastermind of Faizabad dharna.
A three-member bench of the apex court is hearing the case on Wednesday.
Earlier, former chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Absar Alam has made significant allegations against the ex-spymaster Lt-Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, asserting that he faced immense pressure from him during the 2017 Faizabad sit-in.
