IHC orders govt to execute Nawaz's warrants through UK high Commission
IHC orders govt to execute Nawaz's warrants through UK high Commission
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the federal government to comply with the issuance of non-bailable arrest warrants of former premier Nawaz Sharif in Al-Azizia case.
According to details, the Islamabad High Court has issued a five-page judgment on the application of former Prime Minister and PML-N leader Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in Al-Azizia reference case.
The court ruled that the federal government should execute Nawaz Sharif s warrants through the Pakistan High Commission in the United Kingdom.
The Islamabad High Court remarked that the decision on the appeal against Nawaz Sharif s sentence would be taken on merit. Action will be taken to ensure Nawaz Sharif s presence before hearing his appeals.
The court further said that according to the law, the presence of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is required for hearing his appeals.
IHC rejects Nawaz s exemption plea, issues non-bailable arrest warrants
Earlier Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, who is currently in London due to medical treatment, for September 22 in Al-Azizia reference.
According to details, the court had rejected Nawaz Sharif’s plea seeking exemption from the hearing and directed to initiate proceedings to declare him as proclaimed offender.
The high court had also turned down the PML-N supremo’s petition to continue the case hearings through legal representative.
Nawaz Sharif files review petition against IHC order to surrender
Nawaz Sharif had requested the IHC to nullify its ruling and allow him to become a part of the court proceedings through his representative. Nawaz Sharif made the request on medical grounds.
It is pertinent here to mention that the IHC had ordered Nawaz Sharif to surrender and appear on September 10 at any cost in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference.
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani had said in his remarks, “Nawaz Sharif has to appear before the court for hearing. He may face additional three-year imprisonment if he is absconder in the reference. Skipping appearances in the trial is also a crime.”
Trial History
An accountability court on July 06, 2018 jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (r) Muhammad Safdar for 10, 7 and 1 year respectively, in Avenfield properties reference case filed by the National Accountability Bureau.
NAB’s prosecutor had argued law turns onus of proof on accused after ownership of flats [by Sharifs] has been established. He said, “The agreement of money transfer turned out to be fake. Likewise, the deed declaring Maryam Nawaz trustee was also proved fake. She possesses assets beyond her declared source of income.”
NAB prosecutor further added Sharifs had not registered ‘Calibri font’ trust deed in UK. He said, “Maryam Nawaz crafted this trust deed and declared his brother beneficial owner.”
Maryam Nawaz and Captain (r) Safdar, who were candidates for the general elections 2018, were also disqualified from contesting elections for 10 years each.
The sentence and a fine of 8 million pounds, or $10.6 million, came almost a year after Supreme Court removed Sharif from office and less than five months after the court barred him from holding office for life.
Safdar was arrested by the NAB authorities in Rawalpindi on July 9 while Nawaz Sharif and Maryam were taken into custody by the officials after their flight landed at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport. They were shifted to Adiala Jail.
Afterwards, the IHC had suspended sentences of Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Captain (r) Safdar in the Avenfield reference.
Justice Athar Minallah, while announcing the verdict, had directed to release ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar over surety bonds worth Rs0.5 million each.
An accountability court had also handed Nawaz Sharif sentence in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference, and acquitted him in a second reference related to Flagship Investments.
In the Flagship reference, NAB had claimed that Sharif and his sons set up Flagship Investment Limited and 15 other companies and used these companies “to manage/acquire expensive properties/any movement of funds to hide the real sources of funds.”
