Al-Azizia, Flagship verdicts: IHC fixes appeals for hearing on June 19

ISLAMABAD:      The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday fixed the hearing of appeals of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against the Al-Azizia and Flagship verdicts on June 19.
A two-judge bench comprising Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani will hear the appeals.
The accountability court had sentenced Sharif to seven years in prison and fined Rs1.5 billion in the Al-Azizia case on December 24. However, he was acquitted in the Flagship corruption reference.
The former prime minister has challenged the accountability court’s verdict in the Al-Azizia case, seeking to set aside the conviction and seven-year imprisonment in the case.
Whereas, NAB moved two appeals in the IHC, challenging the verdicts in the Al-Azizia and Flagship Investment references. The bureau has pleaded with the court to enhance Sharif’s sentence to 14 years in the Al-Azizia case while strike down his acquittal in the Flagship case.
In its appeal against Nawaz’s acquittal in the Flagship reference, NAB contended that the court’s verdict is against the law and it should have been announced in light of evidence placed on record.
The IHC has been requested to declare the accountability court decision in Flagship reference null and void.