Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday (today) rejected the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) insistence to increase sentence of Nawaz Sharif in the Al Azizya reference and sending the case back to an accountability Court.
A divisional bench of the IHC headed by Chief Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mian Gull Hassan Aurangzaib heard the appeal of the Nawaz Sharif for annulling the verdict of the AC awarded to him back in December 2018.
Nawaz Sharif legal team Azam Nazeer Tarrar, Amjad Pervez and Atta Tarrar and the NAB prosecutor appeared before the court.
Nawaz Sharif along with his daughter Maryam Nawaz, Ishaq Dar, Maryam Aurangzaib and other PML-N leaders were present at the occasion.
The court heard the case after joining the NAB appeals together.
Arguing behalf of Nawaz Sharif Amjad Pervez said that the NAB filed the references on the instructions of the Supreme Court (SC) which have almost same allegations.
He apprised the court that the accountability court had acquitted Nawaz Sharif in the flagship reference .
Nawaz Sharif had an allegation that he established the Al-Azizya Steel Mill, the counsel apprised.
He further informed the court that Nawaz Sharif had never ever had any link with it. While he also apprised the court he will not pursue the case of the judge-video scandal news as the Judge Arshad Malik has passed away.
Justice Mian Gull Hassan Aurangzaib remarked that if the judge conduct was not good at the time of hearing of the case and he was dishonest then it will effect the case.
The Judge further said that it is now your right will you raise the matter of the Judge or not?
Amjad Pervez insisted the court that in the case if the court gives remand back then the court order that the case be decided early.
Later the IHC rejected the NAB insistence to send back the case to the accountability court and decided to hear the case on merit.
The court approved the Nawaz Sharif insistence to not follow the case of judge-video scandle any more.
The court prorogued the hearing on the Nawaz Sharif appeal against his sentence in the Al-Azizya reference till December 12.
The chief Justice Amir Farooq reprimanded Nawaz Sharif counsel Azam Nazeer Tarrar, the PML- N leader Atta Tarrar over making noise and hue and cry in the court.
The CJ said that if it were happened again then we will allow accused and counsels in the court room.
