Islamabad High Court today approved appeals of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif in corruption cases – a relief for the former PM who wants to clear his name to contest general elections next year.
Sharif’s convictions have been suspended till the next hearing in the Avenfield and AlAzizia cases.
Sharif was accompanied by his younger son and PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif to Islamabad High Court for the second time since his return to Pakistan on October 21.
A two-member division bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb announced the verdict, which was reserved earlier today.
The bench issued the verdict while hearing the 73-year-old three-time former prime minister’s pleas seeking protective bail in the Al-Aziza steel mill and Avenfield corruption cases and for restoring his appeals against his conviction.
“Congratulations to all of Pakistan on the restoration of justice,” his party said in a post on X, celebrating the restoration of appeals. A large number of his supporters gathered outside the court building and raised slogans in his favour.
Sharif was earlier granted a protective bail until October 24 when he appeared before the court to surrender and also filed pleas for revival of his appeals in both cases.
The court after the initial hearing had issued notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and adjourned the hearing until today.
During the hearing, the NAB prosecutor informed the court that the anti-corruption watchdog was not interested in the arrest of Sharif, while his counsel pressed for restoration of appeals. NAB also refused to oppose the plea by Sharif’s lawyers.
(With inputs from PTI)
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