Islamabad HC dismisses Nawaz Sharif's plea to club corruption cases
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) dismissed three-time Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif's plea to club three corruption cases against him. Pakistan's Supreme Court (SC) had earlier disqualified him from continuing as PM after the Panama Papers leak revealed his alleged corrupt dealings. The cases against Sharif and his family were filed by Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau following the SC order. Here's more about it.
Panama Papers: Nawaz Sharif and daughter indicted by anti-corruption court
On October 19, Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Sharif and her husband Muhammad Safdar have been indicted by Pakistan's anti-corruption court over references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). These charges are a result of an investigation into the Panama Papers leak, which revealed that the Sharif family owns posh properties in London that are not appropriately recorded under Pakistan's disclosure rules.
The case against the Sharif family
The three cases against the Sharif family are related to the Al-Azizia Company and Hill Metal Establishment, Flagship Investment Ltd and the Avenfield (London) properties. Sharif and his two sons, Hassan and Hussain have been named in all three cases. His sons have been declared absconders for not appearing in court. His daughter Maryam and son-in-law Safdar have been named in the Avenfield case.
What has happened in the case so far?
Following the SC order disqualifying Sharif, the NAB filed three cases against him and his family at the Accountability Court in Islamabad. Sharif petitioned the SC to club the three cases as all of them were concerned with his alleged amassment of wealth offshore. This was rejected. Sharif challenged this ruling at the IHC which has now ruled against his favor.
Court allows Sharif a one-week exemption
The IHC allowed Sharif a one-week exemption (December 5-11) from appearing in court to be with his wife Kulsoom, who is receiving cancer-treatment in London. However, it rejected his daughter's request for an exemption stating she had been granted the same between November 15-December 15.
