ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif yesterday expressed gratitude to the Almighty after being acquitted in the Avenfield graft reference by the Islamabad High Court.

Earlier in the day, the three-time former premier was acquitted in the Avenfield reference, a case in which he was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2018 with a fine of £8 million (Rs1.92 billion).

Later in Dec 2018, Nawaz was sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs1.2 billion and $25 million after an accountability court found him guilty in the Al-Azizia reference. He subsequently filed appeals against his convictions in the IHC.

In a brief interaction with the media after the court’s decision, Sharif remarked, “Thanks to Allah that justice prevailed with me today. I had left my affairs to Allah, and today Allah has vindicated me.

I am thankful to the Almighty.” Responding to a query about Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan not contesting intra-party elections, the former premier commented, “This is the law of nature.”

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has acquitted PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif of the charges in the Avenfield Apartments references.  A division bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb heard Nawaz’s appeals against his sentence in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia Steel Mills cases.

He had been sentenced to 10 years in prison in the Avenfield Apartments case.

Nawaz Sharif was present in court along with his legal team. Moreover, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) also decided to withdraw its appeal against Nawaz’s acquittal in the Flagship reference, which it filed earlier in the day.

The court then disposed of the appeal on being withdrawn. The NAB had also planned to appeal for extending the former premier’s sentence in the Al-Azizia reference.  The decision led PML-N supporters outside the court to start chanting slogans in support of Nawaz Sharif.

Meanwhile, Nawaz’s brother and party president Shehbaz Sharif has also expressed gratitude to the judiciary for delivering justice.

“Thanks to Allah that we’re seeing this day where my leader, elder brother, party, and family have been exonerated,” he added. Shehbaz said that his brother was innocent and the Almighty today has exonerated him of all charges.

The PML-N president concluded by commending Nawaz Sharif’s resilience in the face of political adversaries, saying that even in life’s bitterest moments, his leader never lost courage. Nawaz’s daughter and party’s Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz also hailed the court’s decision, praising the triumph as an example of resilience in the face of oppression.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 30 2023

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