Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif Acquitted in Al-Azizia Corruption Case

 

Introduction

In a significant relief to former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Islamabad High Court has acquitted him in the Al-Azizia Steel mill corruption case. This development comes as Nawaz seeks to make his political comeback ahead of the general election. Although he has been cleared in this case, Nawaz still remains disqualified from holding public office due to the Supreme Court's ruling in the Panama Papers case. Let's delve deeper into the details of the Al-Azizia case and its implications for Nawaz Sharif's political future.

The Al-Azizia Steel Mills Corruption Case

The Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case revolves around Nawaz Sharif's inability to justify the source of funds used to set up the steel mills and the Hill Metal Establishment (HME) in Saudi Arabia. On December 24, 2018, Nawaz was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined Rs 1.5 billion in this case. However, he appealed against the conviction and left for London in 2019 on medical grounds.

Nawaz's Proclaimed Offender Status and Appeal Restoration

While Nawaz was in London, he was declared a proclaimed offender by the Islamabad High Court in 2020. However, upon his return to Pakistan in October, he filed two separate applications seeking the restoration of his appeals against the convictions. Nawaz argued that the pending appeals were dismissed for non-prosecution while he was abroad for medical treatment. He requested the court to revive the appeals and decide on their merits.

High Court's Verdict and Shehbaz's Response

The court agreed with Nawaz's argument that the pending appeals were dismissed for non-prosecution while he was abroad. In response to the verdict, Nawaz's brother Shehbaz expressed vindication and criticized the cases that were created to disqualify a sitting prime minister. Shehbaz emphasized that the seven years wasted due to these cases were detrimental to Pakistan's development and prosperity.

Disqualification from Holding Public Office

Although acquitted in the Al-Azizia case, Nawaz Sharif remains disqualified from holding public office due to the Supreme Court's ruling in the Panama Papers case. The top Pakistani court had ruled that the disqualification is for life. However, amendments were made to the Elections Act, 2017, seeking to limit the disqualification of lawmakers to five years. This amendment could potentially impact Nawaz's political future.

Release of Seized Properties and Interim Suspension of Sentence

In November, an accountability court ordered the release of all movable and immovable properties seized from Nawaz Sharif in connection with a corruption case. This decision came in the Toshakhana case, where Nawaz was accused of obtaining a vehicle from the gift depository by paying only 15% of the car's price. Additionally, the interim government suspended the sentence awarded to Nawaz in the Al-Azizia reference, making him eligible to run in the upcoming general elections.

Implications for Nawaz's Political Comeback

The acquittal in the Al-Azizia case and the release of seized properties provide a significant boost to Nawaz Sharif's political ambitions. With the upcoming general elections, Nawaz aims to make his comeback as the next Pakistani premier. However, the disqualification from holding public office still poses a challenge. The amendments made to the Elections Act, 2017, could potentially change the landscape and allow Nawaz to participate in politics again.

Conclusion

The acquittal of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia Steel mill corruption case brings a sigh of relief for him and his supporters. While he still remains disqualified from holding public office, the recent developments in his favor pave the way for a potential political comeback. The release of seized properties and the suspension of his sentence in the Al-Azizia reference add to Nawaz's chances of participating in the upcoming general elections. Only time will tell how these legal and political dynamics unfold and shape Nawaz Sharif's future in Pakistani politics.

Additional Information

• Nawaz Sharif's acquittal in the Al-Azizia case is seen as a setback for the anti-corruption drive in Pakistan.
• Nawaz's political party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has been actively campaigning for his return to power.
• The Panama Papers leak in 2016 revealed offshore accounts and properties owned by various world leaders and prominent individuals, including Nawaz Sharif and his family.
• The Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case is one of several corruption cases against Nawaz Sharif and his family.
• The Supreme Court's ruling in the Panama Papers case led to Nawaz Sharif's disqualification from holding public office and subsequent legal battles.