IHC tells Nawaz Sharif to surrender, appear in court on Sep 10

IHC tells Nawaz Sharif to surrender, appear in court on Sep 10

Islamabad (Web Desk): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday directed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif to present himself before the court on September 9.

An IHC division bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani was hearing the appeals of former premier Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam and her husband, Safdar, against their convictions in the Avenfield reference.

The court, while granting the former PM one more opportunity, directed him to surrender at any cost.

During today's hearing, Justice Farooq said that the court was not declaring Nawaz an absconder and was giving him "one more chance to surrender".

The court directed Nawaz to appear before it on September 9 and adjourned proceedings of the petition till September 10.

Earlier today, PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz appeared before the IHC to attend a hearing of the Avenfield Apartments review petition.

A special bench of the court comprising Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard appeals filed by former premier Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and his son-in-law captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar against their conviction in the Avenfield reference.

Maryam's father and former PM Nawaz Sharif had sought exemption from attending the hearing, while Maryam and Safdar had filed a request for adjournment.

At the last hearing, the IHC had suspended the 10-year, seven-year, and one-year jail sentences awarded to Nawaz, Maryam and Safdar, respectively by an accountability court on July 6, 2018.

The Supreme Court had later upheld the high court's decision while hearing the National Accountability Bureau's appeal against the suspension. The accused have since been out on bail.