LHC recommends forming larger bench over petition against Sharifs' conviction
The petition has been filed by Advocate A K Dogar.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday has recommended forming larger bech over the petition filed against the convictions of ousted premier Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.
Justice Ali Akbar Qureshi conducted hearing over a miscellaneous plea of Lawyers Foundation for Justice.
The petition filed by Advocate A K Dogar has termed all the steps of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as illegal after the approval of 18th amendment.
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He has requested the court to annul the convictions of both Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz. A three-time prime minister was convicted under that law which has been nullified, added the plea.
Dogar maintained in the court that accountability court’s July 6 verdict has been attached with the petition. He asked the court to constitute larger bench as the matter is of significant nature.
Justice Ali forwarded the file for the formation of larger bench to LHC Chief Justice (CJ) Muhammad Yawar Ali.
Convicted and sentenced
It is to be mentioned here that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Captain Safdar were convicted and sentenced to prison in absentia for ten years, seven years and one year respectively, in Avenfield verdict that is likely to further disrupt an already chaotic campaign for national elections this month.
Maryam Nawaz and Captain (r) Safdar, who were candidates for the forthcoming general elections 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.
Know More: Federal cabinet approves open trial of Nawaz, Maryam in Al-Azizia, Flagship references
Nawaz Sharif was convicted under section 9(a)(5) of the NAB ordinance.
The case stemmed from the Panama Papers leak that disclosed expensive and undeclared property owned by the Sharif family in London.
Arrested and shifted to Adiala Jail
Safdar was arrested by the NAB authoritites in Rawalpindi on July 9 while Nawaz Sharif and Maryam were taken into custody by the officials few minutes after their flight landed at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport on Friday night and shifted to Adiala Jail.
Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir, who was present in the jail, issued warrants for imprisonment for Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz. A team of doctors conducted the medical checkup of both the accused and declared them fit.
Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were then shifted to B-Class facility in Adiala Jail.
