ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is set to appear in Islamabad High Court and Accountability Court Islamabad today as part of his surrender process.
Both courts have accepted his security bail pleas and ordered that he not be arrested until the specified date.
Mian Nawaz Sharif, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, is scheduled to return home on October 21, and preparations for his reception have been completed. This return has sparked discussions on social media regarding his potential return to the position of Prime Minister.
Nawaz Sharif was disqualified in the well-known Panama case in 2017, and subsequently, he was sentenced by the court in both the Al-Azizia Corruption Reference and the Avenfield Corruption Reference.
NAB Prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi noted in the Islamabad High Court in 2022 that the Avenfield flats were purchased in 1993-94 and were owned by two offshore companies, Nielsen and Niscol. Justice Amir Farooq questioned the timing, as it was suggested that Maryam Nawaz’s role in the ownership of these flats began in 2006. These developments raise questions about Mian Nawaz Sharif’s involvement in this case.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been sentenced to 7 and 10 years in prison in the Al-Azizia Corruption Reference and Avenfield Corruption Reference, respectively. He was declared admissible in December 2020 for non-appearance in these cases, as he had left the country in November 2019 with the assurance of returning after undergoing medical treatment in London. Another case related to Tosha Khana Gifts is still in the trial stage.
Regarding the potential for Nawaz Sharif to participate in the next general elections, there are legal and constitutional hurdles to overcome. Constitutional amendments may be needed to address his disqualification. Advocate Imran Shafiq, a prosecutor who appeared on behalf of NAB in the cases against Nawaz Sharif, has pointed out that the Islamabad High Court’s decision allows Sharif to re-file his appeals upon his return. There’s also the possibility of bail under the NAB amendment law.
The issue of Nawaz Sharif’s eligibility to participate in elections hinges on his acquittal in the corruption references. His disqualification under Article 62 1F of the Constitution and the associated disqualification amendment in the Election Act present a significant challenge, as a constitutional amendment may be required to address this disqualification. According to Senior Supreme Court lawyer Zulfiqar Ahmad Bhatta, no person can be disqualified for life.
