ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif on Thursday submitted an application in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), seeking suspension of his jail sentence in the Al-Azizia corruption reference until his plea in the case is decided by the high court.
Nawaz was handed seven-year rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs1.5 billion and $25 million in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills/Hill Metal Establishment reference on December 24, 2018, by the Accountability Court 2 of Islamabad. The court, however, acquitted the PML-N supremo in the Flagship Investment reference. Nawaz was also barred from holding a public office for 10 years after the completion of his jail term. As part of the verdict, the court also issued perpetual warrants for Hassan and Hussain Nawaz while declaring them proclaimed offenders and ordered the confiscation of Hill Metal Establishment.
In the application, Nawaz said that he had already challenged the sentence in the high court and putting him in jail on the basis of the accountability court’s verdict would be a violation of his basic rights. Nawaz claimed that he was convicted on the basis of unacceptable evidence and his objections in the case were also avoided by the court. He urged the court to grant him bail until the court makes a decision on his appeal against the verdict.