SC orders Al-Azizia reference against Nawaz be concluded within three weeks

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday directed an accountability court hearing the remaining two corruption references against the Sharif family to conclude the Al-Azizia case within three weeks.

The deadline to conclude the Al-Azizia reference ended on November 17. On November 16, Accountability Court Judge Arshad Malik had written a letter to the Supreme Court to seek another extension in the deadline to conclude the cases.

A two-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar heard Judge Malik’s request. Former premier Nawaz Sharif’s counsel, Khawaja Harris, also appeared before the bench for the hearing.

The top court directed that the Al-Azizia reference against the former premier be concluded within three weeks.

“After this, more time will not be given to conclude the Al-Azizia reference trial,” Justice Nisar remarked. 

Earlier, six extensions to wrap up the corruption references initiated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) were granted by the apex court.

The Supreme Court had initially set a six-month deadline to conclude the four corruption references against the Sharif family.

The trial

The trial against the Sharif family commenced on September 14, 2017.

On July 6, after four extensions in the original six-month deadline to conclude all three cases, the court announced its verdict in the Avenfield reference.

Nawaz and his sons, Hussain and Hasan, are accused in all three references whereas Maryam and Safdar were accused in the Avenfield reference only.

The two brothers, based abroad, have been absconding since the proceedings began last year and were declared proclaimed offenders by the court.