IHC adjourns hearing of Nawaz's appeal against Al-Azizia conviction till May 9

Dunya News

A two-member bench of the IHC will preside over the hearing of the appeal today.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday adjourned hearing of an appeal filed by former premier Nawaz Sharif against his conviction in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference till May 9, while accepting Sharif’s application of exemption from personal appearance on medical grounds for the day.

A two-member bench of the IHC presided over the hearing of the appeal.

Yesterday, a legal team of Sharif, on his behalf, filed an application in the court seeking his exemption from personal appearance in the hearing.

Besides, the application was attached with Sharif’s updated health status in a medical report.

His legal team contended that due to the ongoing medical treatment, he could not appear before the court, and sought an exemption from personal appearance for a day.

The medical report mentioned that he has been suffering from cardiac issues, irregularity in blood sugar levels, and a third-grade kidney disease, and his health is being monitored thoroughly.

Subsequently, the court directed his defence counsel to submit the complete updated record in the court.

In February, Sharif was diagnosed as a patient with serious health problems and the specially constituted medical board that examined him recommended he be shifted to a hospital.

The six-member board examined him at the Kot Lakhpat prison after other doctors suggested that he had cardiac problems and needed to be hospitalised.

Later, the Supreme Court granted him six-week bail to undergo medical treatment and he is being examined at the Sharif Medical City hospital.

Accountability judge Mohammad Arshad Malik on Dec 24 last year convicted Mr Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference and sentenced him to seven-year imprisonment.