The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday included verified copies of a press release and an affidavit issued by the accountability judge Arshad Malik in the paper book of an appeal filed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif against his conviction in the case of corruption of Al Azizia.
Judge Malik had sentenced Nawaz last year in Al Azizia's reference and sentenced to seven years in prison. The court had also fined Nawaz with Rs 1,500 million and $ 25 million in Al-Azizia's reference. The former prime minister is currently in the Kot Lakhpat prison.
Nawaz had challenged the verdict in the higher court and was heard today by a two-member bank, consisting of Judge Aamir Farooq and Judge Mohsin Raza Kiyani. A statement submitted by the National Office of Responsibility (NAB) to extend Nawaz's sentence from seven to 14 years was also heard simultaneously.
During the hearing, Nawaz's lawyer, Khawaja Haris, asked the court for a "verified copy" of a press release and an affidavit filed at IHC by Malik after a controversial video of the judge appeared. The bank said both items had been included in the file provided to Haris.
The court said the evidence provided by NAB and Nawaz's lawyer had been included in the file and told Haris to count the paper book documents with his own record.
During the hearing, Haris said some paper book documents were missing. The court responded that if a document had been omitted, the lawyer can present it later.
When asked how long it would take Haris to conclude his arguments about the appeal, he said it will end in three months.
The court then ordered that copies of the press release and Malik's affidavit be delivered to Haris and the NAB lawyer. The hearing was postponed until October 7.
PML-N leaders, including the spokesman for the Marriyum Aurangzeb party, Raja Zafarul Haq, Ayaz Sadiq, Pervez Rashid were also present in the courtroom during the hearing.
The reference refers to the fact that the Sharif family cannot justify the source of the funds provided to establish Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment (HME) in Saudi Arabia, which makes it a case of owning assets beyond media.
PML-N had raised questions about the conviction after a video scandal involving Malik emerged earlier this year. Nawaz's daughter, Maryam Nawaz, had posted a video clip in which Malik allegedly confessed that he had been "blackmailed" to condemn Sharif. Maryam, who is currently in NAB custody, had requested the revocation of Nawaz's sentence.
Malik was removed from office after the video was published and was repatriated to Lahore High Court, where disciplinary proceedings will be carried out against him.
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1505897/judge-maliks-press-release-affidavit-included-in-nawazs-appeal-against-al-azizia-verdict