Hearing of Al-Azizia, Flagship references adjourned without any proceeding

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Monday adjourned the hearing of Al-Azizia and Flagship corruption references against former premier Nawaz Sharif and his family members till August 1.

As the hearing of Al-Azizia and Flagship corruption cases resumed, judge Muhammad Bashir,without any proceeding. adjourned the hearing citing that he would like to wait until tomorrow for the directives of Islamabad High Court (IHC) to be given in Sharif family’s plea against the Avenfield verdict.

The judge then ordered to adjourn today’s hearing till August 1.

The IHC will take up the Sharif family’s pleas against the Avenfield verdict on Tuesday (tomorrow).

The high court accepted, on July 20, the appeals of convicted PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Capt. (Retd) Safdar challenging the verdict of accountability court in Avenfield case.

The court issued a written order stipulating that the appeals of Sharif family were approved for a preliminary hearing in the court.

READ MORE: Nawaz moves IHC to transfer Al-Azizia, Flagship cases to another judge

According to the order, a notice was sent to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) while directions were given to prepare a volume of all appeals of Sharif family.

On July 6, the three-time prime minister was sentenced to 10 years in prison by accountability judge Muhammad Bashir in the Avenfield case while his daughter and son-in-law to seven years and one year’s jail term, respectively.

Accountability Judge Muhammad Bashir ordered forfeiture of their properties in the Avenfield Apartments and Park Lane of London. He imposed a fine of £8 million (approximately Rs1,292m) on the former premier and £2 million (approximately Rs323m) on his daughter.

Besides, three convicts were awarded an additional one-year imprisonment, which will run concurrently for not cooperating with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).