Flagship reference: IHC to hear NAB's appeal against Sharif's acquittal on May 21
A two-member bench, Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani will resume the hearing.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on May 21 is scheduled to hear an appeal filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against acquittal of former premier Nawaz Sharif in the flagship reference.
A two-member bench comprising of Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani will resume the hearing.
Last year on Dec 24, an accountability court handed Sharif seven years in jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference, and acquitted him in a second reference related to Flagship Investments.
The court also fined him Rs1.5 billion and US $25 million in the Al-Azizia reference.
A disqualification of 10 years from holding any public office is part of the sentences awarded to the former premier. The disqualification will go into effect following his release from jail after serving the seven-year sentence.
Accountability Judge Mohammad Arshad Malik on Dec 19 had reserved judgement in both the references filed by NAB against the former premier.
The two references concern the setting up of the Al-Azizia and Hill Metal Establishment in Saudi Arabia, and Flagship Investment in the United Kingdom. The accountability court charged Nawaz in both references under Section 9(a)(v) of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.
On March 26, the Supreme Court had granted bail to former premier Nawaz Sharif for six weeks against a surety bond of Rs5 million in a petition filed on medical grounds in Al-Azizia corruption reference; however, with a restriction that he cannot leave the country.
On May 3, the Supreme Court rejected Sharif’s plea seeking an extension in his six-week bail — which expired on May 7 — in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case. As a consequence, he moved back to his barracks in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore.
