ISLAMABAD: with dismissal of appeals by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) here on Thursday, former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz( PMLN) supremo, Nawaz Sharif, officially gets status of a fugitive for not returning to Pakistan from United Kingdom (UK) and surrendering before the court of law to get legal right to be heared in the corruption references…Al -Azizia Steel Mills and Hudabiya Paper Mills cases.
An accountability court had convicted Nawaz Sharif in Al- Aziza Steel Mills and Hudabiya Paper Mills references and ordered jail term upto 7 qnd 10 years respectively.
The accountability court had convicted Nawaz Sharif in corruption cases when the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had proved that the accused (Nawaz Sharif) had piled up assets beyond known source of income.
Nawaz Sharif was a convict and linguishing in jail when he was allowed to travel to the United Kingdom for ‘treatment’.
Nawaz Sharif left Pakistan in 2019 for UK after gettimg relief from the court after giving an assurance to the court to come back to Pakistan as soon as he gets ‘treatment’ .
He had submitted a personal guarranttee of his younger brother, Shahbaz Sharif, in the cases also.
Nawaz Sharif, however,did not honour his commitment submitted to the court in writing.
Thursday’s court decision has put Nawaz Sharif in real trouble. If he does not surrender before the court as noted in the decision it will close doors on Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan and take practical part in Pakistan’s politics.
Thursday’s statements of PMLN leaders clearly suggest that Nawaz Sharif may never return to Pakistan and surrender before the court for relief in corruption cases. IHC decision has added to the woes PMLN and Nawaz Sharif.
Commenting on IHC decision of dismissing Nawaz Sharif’s appeals, Interior minister, Shaikh Rashid, said in a TV show that the court decision is going to add to Nawaz Sharif and PMLN problems.
PMLN senior leader, Ahsin Iqbal,, said Thursdsy’s decision is another proof of Nawaz Sharif’ victimisation.