ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday sought a report from registrar’s office regarding fixing of appeals of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and retired Capt Safdar against their conviction in the Avenfield properties reference.

The court, however, decided to hear the appeal filed against the acquittal of former finance minister Shaukat Tarin, former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and others, observing that such appeals are not being heard as per the standard operating procedures (SOPs) devised to counter the coronavirus pandemic.

An IHC division bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani took up the applications filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) seeking early hearing of a set of appeals in the cases against Mr Sharif, Ms Nawaz and Capt Safdar.

NAB has requested the court to fix the Sharif family’s appeals against their conviction in the Avenfield reference.

The hearing on the matter was adjourned till April 13.

Another NAB appeal is against the acquittal of Mr Sharif in the Flagship Investment reference. The third appeal is about enhancing the sentence awarded to Mr Sharif from seven to 14 years.

Meanwhile, an IHC division bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri disposed of an application seeking early disposal of the appeal filed by NAB against the acquittal of former finance minister Shaukat Tarin in Sahuwal and Piranghaib rental power projects references.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2021