Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday, declared former prime minister Nawaz Sharif a ‘proclaimed offender’ in Al Azizia and Avenfield references.
The two-member IHC bench comprising of Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard the plea flied by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif contesting his sentence in Al Azizia and Avenfield cases.
During the hearing, the court noted that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been given enough time to appear before the court and has been warned multiple times in this regard.
Mubashir Khan – Director Foreign Ministry Europe, apprised the court that advertisements regarding Nawaz Sharif have been forwarded to Pakistan High Commission in London.
Meanwhile, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) official Aijaz Ahmed tolt the court that he himself had delivered the advertisements at Nawaz Sharif’s residence in Pakistan at Jati Umra and Model Town.
The court then declared Nawaz Sharif a ‘proclaimed offender’ and a ‘absconder’ in Al Azizia and Avenfield references.
Furthermore, show-case notices have been issued to guarantors of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in this regard.
The court announced that a short verdict will be issued later in the day today.
It is pertinent to know that Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to seven and 10 years in prison in Al Azizia and Avenfield references respectively.
The sentence was later suspended followed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) appeals seeking the further increment in Nawaz Sharif’s sentence up to 14 years.
Nawaz Sharif was granted bail on medical grounds by IHC back in October 2019 last year allowing the former prime minister to fly to London for medical treatment.
IHC had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Nawaz Sharif in September this year after the ex-prime minister failed to appear before the court despite multiple warnings as his bail expired in February 2020.
