IHC overturns conviction, clearing path for Nawaz Sharif’s potential prime ministerial bid

Earlier, Nawaz Sharif had also been acquitted in the Avenfield Apartments reference.

In a significant turn of events, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has overturned the conviction of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference. This ruling marks a major boost for the veteran politician’s aspirations to become the next Prime Minister of the country.

Nawaz Sharif, who returned to Pakistan in October after four years of self-imposed exile in London, is eyeing a historic fourth term as Prime Minister, as indicated by his party. To qualify for the upcoming elections scheduled for February 8, 2024, Sharif needed the removal of another seven-year sentence and a lifelong ban on holding any public office.

The 2018 conviction stemmed from corruption charges related to the establishment of Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment (HME) in Saudi Arabia, with allegations of failure to justify the source of funds. The high court’s verdict, announced after considering arguments from both defense and prosecution lawyers, has now cleared the way for Sharif’s political ambitions.

Senior lawyer Irfan Qadir expressed disappointment over what he called “sham cases” against a former prime minister and called on the judges who convicted Nawaz to apologize to the nation. Qadir noted that it was the Supreme Court that instructed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file references against Nawaz in the aftermath of the controversial Panama verdict.

Despite the case lingering since 2017, the NAB prosecutor reportedly failed to provide any evidence against Nawaz for allegedly possessing assets beyond means. It was highlighted that the reference was filed based on directions from the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), formed on the Supreme Court’s direction.

In the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference, an accountability court had sentenced Nawaz Sharif to seven years in jail and imposed a fine of 2.5 million pounds on December 24, 2018. Nawaz promptly submitted an appeal against the decision, seeking the annulment of the imprisonment, fine, and conviction.

Read more: Nawaz Sharif Acquitted in Al-Azizia Reference

It’s noteworthy that Nawaz Sharif had also been acquitted in the Avenfield Apartments reference, with the high court accepting his appeal last month. As the legal hurdles gradually clear for the seasoned politician, his potential return to the political forefront could reshape the dynamics of the upcoming elections and the country’s political landscape.