Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif's conviction in Al-Azizia case suspended; check details
By Team Newsable | First Published Oct 24, 2023, 2:42 PM ISTNawaz Sharif was convicted in the Al-Azizia case by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court back in September 2017. The court had handed him a 7-year prison sentence and imposed a fine of 1.5 million pounds, while also ordering the seizure of Al-Azizia and Hill Metal properties.
In a significant development, the caretaker Punjab government in Pakistan has decided to suspend the sentence of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills graft case. This decision comes as a relief for Nawaz Sharif, who had been living in self-exile in London for the past four years.
Nawaz Sharif was convicted in the Al-Azizia case by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court back in September 2017. The court had handed him a 7-year prison sentence and imposed a fine of 1.5 million pounds, while also ordering the seizure of Al-Azizia and Hill Metal properties.
Latest Videos
It should be noted that Nawaz Sharif had faced legal challenges on multiple fronts. In 2018, he was ousted by the court and handed a 10-year prison term in the Avenfield properties corruption reference, which was related to possessing assets beyond his known income. He also received an additional one-year sentence for non-cooperation with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), to be served concurrently.
His daughter, Maryam Nawaz, who serves as the Chief Organiser of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), had been sentenced to seven years in jail in the Al-Azizia case. However, she was acquitted in September 2022, along with her husband, retired Captain Safdar.
The Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference has been a long-standing legal matter in which Nawaz Sharif had been sentenced to seven years in prison on December 24, 2018, and fined Rs 1.5 billion along with US$25 million. However, in 2019, the Lahore High Court suspended his sentence in the Al-Azizia reference on medical grounds, allowing him to seek medical treatment in London.
Explained: Why IDF is not inside Gaza yet and how Hezbollah could reshape Israel-Hamas war
Subsequently, Nawaz Sharif lived in self-imposed exile in London until his return to Pakistan, which was facilitated by his brother, Shehbaz Sharif. Nawaz Sharif's return was met with great anticipation and marked by a significant rally in Lahore, where he addressed his party's supporters.
subscribe to Asianet Newsable WhatsApp channel by clicking here. For more reliable and latest news
subscribe to Asianet Newsable Telegram channel by clicking here.