Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif acquitted in Avenfield reference

The Islamabad High Court overturned the verdict of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the Avenfield reference and acquitted him of the 10-year sentence and fine.

A division bench consisting of Chief Justice Islamabad High Court Amir Farooq and Justice Gul Hasan Aurangzeb heard the appeals against Nawaz Sharif’s sentence in the Avenfield reference.

Before the arrival of the judges, instructions were given by the court staff to keep mobile phones silent in the court room.

Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer Amjad Parvez advocate came to the rostrum and while starting the arguments, he said that Nawaz Sharif’s co-accused Maryam Nawaz and Captain (R) Safdar were acquitted after accepting the appeal. The co-accused were accused of aiding and abetting.

Amjad Parvez said that the decision of the acquittal of the co-accused has become final from the Islamabad High Court.

Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer read out various sections of the NAB Ordinance and said that the NAB Ordinance has defined Benami Dar.

Justice Gul Hasan Aurangzeb remarked that I think the suspension of sentence was also on the same basis. In deciding to suspend the sentence, we relied on several judgments of the Supreme Court. The decision to suspend the sentence gave the impression that the appeal was accepted.

Nawaz Sharif’s response on the decision

Talking to the media outside Islamabad High Court, Leader of Muslim League (N) Nawaz Sharif said that he had left the matters to Allah. Allah has proved our innocence.

Nawaz Sharif also said that the Al-Azizia reference matter is also left to Allah. After that Leader of Muslim League (N) Nawaz Sharif left Islamabad High Court.