IHC disposes of Nawaz Sharif's plea to club graft references

ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court on Monday turned down an application filed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif seeking the merger of all corruption reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, had reserved the verdict on November 23.

Justice Aamer read out the short order, while a detailed order will be issued later.

The former premier was facing trial in the three NAB references regarding Al-Azizia Steel Mills, London flats, and Flagship Investments filed in the backdrop of the Panamagate verdict.

Earlier, The accountability court on November 8 had again turned down the plea of former premier in this regard after taking up the case on the orders of the Supreme Court.

Nawaz Sharif had later challenged the decision in the IHC.

The plea had been filed by Nawaz's counsel Azam Nazir Tarar pointing out that the cases regarding Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship Investments have same charges, therefore, these should be merged.

He had further added that the three individuals, who have been made accused in theses cases, and 13 witnesses are the same.

NAB References 

The accountability court is hearing three references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Nawaz and his family regarding London flats, Azizia Steel Mills and other companies in the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Panama Papers case.

Nawaz and his two sons, Hussain and Hasan, have been made accused in all three references whereas Maryam and her husband MNA Capt (retd) Safdar are accused in one case regarding London properties.