The Islamabad High Court has dismissed the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) plea to re-hear the Al-Azizia reference on merit, during an appeal hearing. Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mian Gul Hasan presided over the proceedings, where Nawaz Sharif, along with leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), was present in the courtroom.
The NAB prosecutor requested that even if a decision on the merit appeal is made, lingering issues may remain, and sending the case back for a re-trial could be considered by the accountability court.
Prime Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar opposed the plea to send the case back to the accountability court, stating that political stability is crucial for the progress of the country. He emphasized that a decision by the accountability court should be respected.
Justice Aamir Farooq presented two options to Nawaz Sharif’s legal team: either the court independently reviews additional evidence and decides on merit, or the reference is sent back to the accountability court for a retrial. The justices assured that they would not back down if the decision is made on merit.
Justice Gul Hasan questioned Tarar, stating that if the case is sent back for a retrial, Nawaz Sharif would be considered an accused without a conviction. In such a scenario, the trial court would need to reevaluate the case. He questioned why there was concern when the National Accountability Bureau had consistently maintained this stance.
Azam Nazeer Tarar argued that Nawaz Sharif has faced numerous allegations before, and decisions on two previous appeals have been made in the same court. He asserted that the photocopy of the evidence presented in the Avenfield Apartments case was deemed unacceptable by the court.
The hearing on the Al-Azizia reference appeal concluded with Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer, Amjad Parvez, presenting complete arguments. The NAB prosecutor was given until December 12 to provide further evidence during the next hearing.
The Islamabad High Court’s decision not to entertain NAB’s request for a rehearing on merit adds another layer to the legal complexities surrounding the Al-Azizia reference, further prolonging the legal battle involving former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
