IHC to take up Sharifs’ pleas in Avenfield, Al-Azizia and Flagship corruption references

ISLAMABAD - Today, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) will resume hearing of petitions filed by former premier Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and his son-in-law Capt (r) Safdar in cases pertaining to the transfer of Al-Azizia and Flagship references and against the conviction of Avenfield reference.

Earlier, the legal counsel of the PML-N supremo, Khawaja Haris gave his arguments over the appeal to shift trial of remaining cases to another court. He further added that Accountability Court-I Judge Muhammad Bashir already revealed his intentions by punishing Nawaz and his family in Avenfield Reference.

The Sharif family had also filed an appeal against their convictions in the Avenfield reference.

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However, the IHC decided to club appeals filed by Sharif family against Avenfield verdict with Nawaz’s appeal to transfer Flagship and Al Azizia Reference to another judge.

During the hearing, Justice Aamer Farooq suggested to club appeals against verdict with the appeal to transfer other corruption cases against Nawaz from Judge Muhammad Bashir.

The appeals by the Sharif family will be heard today by a two-member bench of the court which includes Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb.

On July 6, Accountability Court (AC) sentenced Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Capt (r) Safdar to jail in the Avenfield properties reference.

Nawaz was sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison and slapped a £8 million fine (Rs 1.3 billion) while Maryam was sentenced to eight years with a £2 million fine (Rs 335 million). Maryam’s husband, Capt (r) Safdar, was sentenced to one year in prison.

The remaining cases pertain to Al-Azizia Steel Mills and the Hill Metal Establishment, and offshore companies including Flagship Investment Limited.

Nawaz and his sons Hussain and Hasan are accused in all three references whereas Maryam and Safdar were accused in the Avenfield reference only.