Nawaz Sharif again in hot water as IHC turns down appeals against punishment in Panama reference

The appeals have been turned down against his punishments awarded by the Accountability Courts (ACs) in both references.

Two-member bench comprising Justice Aamir Farooq and Mohsin Akhtar Kyani announced the verdict.

"Nawaz Sharif can submit appeal application against the verdict in case he returns to Pakistan or is arrested," the IHC bench ruled. "There was no other option except to reject the appeals as Nawaz Sharif is an absconder in both cases."  

The rejection of appeals means restoration of punishments. The IHC had reserved the decision in its previous hearing.

In July 2018, an AC announced the verdict in the Avenfield properties corruption reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), handing ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif 10 years as jail time for owning assets beyond known income and 1 year for not cooperating with NAB. 

In December, 2018, Nawaz Sharif was again convicted by another accountability court in the Al Azizia Steel Mills reference and sentenced to seven years in jail. He has been acquitted in the Flagship reference.

Fawad on Nawaz Sharif's case

Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussian has termed the court's deicison on Nawaz Sharif case a victory of justice, the people of Pakistan and the government as every body knew how the former premier escapaed from the country and under what circumstances.

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"The Sharif family should return money they had looted from the masses of Pakistan."

Talking to media, the minister said keeping in view the evidences the court ruled that Nawaz had made lies about his properties and assets. "London flats were purchased from the money laundered in the name of Hudabya Papers Millls." 

He said the appeal of Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of Nawaz Sharif, would also follow the principles of justice and merit.