Big Relief for Nawaz Sharif as Pak Court Acquits Him in Avenfield Case – News18

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday acquitted former Pakistan Prime Miniter Nawaz Sharif in the Avenfield reference. The verdict was announced by a two-member bench on Nawaz’s appeal against his conviction in the case.

In July 2018, an accountability court sentenced the PML-N supremo to rigorous imprisonment for a term of 10 years with a fine of £8 million in the Avenfield Apartments corruption reference for owning assets beyond known sources of income and an additional year for not cooperating with National Accountability Bureau (NAB), both of them to be served concurrently.

Nawaz, who was declared a proclaimed offender in December 2020, returned to Pakistan last month, seeking the restoration of his appeal. The IHC set aside the accountability court’s verdict, citing a lack of evidence and legal flaws. Nawaz’s lawyer argued that the prosecution failed to prove the link between Nawaz and the Avenfield properties. The court highlighted the suspension of Nawaz’s sentence based on previous Supreme Court judgments.

The case revolves around the purchase of four flats in Avenfield House, London. Last year, the IHC had acquitted Nawaz’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz, and her spouse, retired Capt Safdar, in the same case. The verdict holds significance in the context of PML-N supremo’s political future and the ongoing legal battles.