IHC acquits Nawaz Sharif in Avenfield reference

The Islamabad High Court on Thursday acquitted PLMN leader Nawaz Sharif in the Avenfield reference.

The acquittal was granted to former premier upon the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) withdrawal of appeal against Nawaz Sharif in Avenfield reference.

The decision was declared by a two-judge panel consisting of IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb.

In July 2018, Nawaz Sharif received a 10-year prison sentence in the Avenfield properties corruption case for possessing assets exceeding his known income, and an additional one-year term for non-cooperation with the NAB.

Both sentences were ordered to be served concurrently.

Later in December 2018, the ex-three-time prime minister received a seven-year prison term in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case.

The high court has also closed the Flagship graft case against the PML leader following the withdrawal of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) petition challenging the acquittal in the matter.

Speaking to the media outside the IHC, Nawaz Sharif expressed gratitude to Allah Almighty for the reversal of the conviction.