ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will take up former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s appeal against his conviction, as well as a petition seeking the suspension of his sentence in the Al-Azizia/Hill Metal Establishment reference on Jan 21.

A two-member division bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani will hear the appeal and the petition.

Sharif was convicted by an accountability court on Dec 24. He was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined Rs1.5 billion and $25 million. Sharif was acquitted in the Flagship Investment reference.

While hearing Sharif’s petition seeking the suspension of his sentence, a high court bench comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Farooq observed earlier this week that the matter could not be heard unless the appeal is also admitted for regular hearing.

The IHC registrar’s office removed administrative objections to appeals filed by the National Accountability Bureau against Sharif’s acquittal in the Flagship reference, and to increase his sentence from seven to 14 years.

The registrar’s office has numbered these appeals, which will be placed before the available bench accordingly.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2019