The interim cabinet of the Punjab province in Pakistan has suspended the sentence of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference. This decision was made using constitutional powers granted under Section 401 of the Criminal Procedural Code (CPC).
The Punjab cabinet stated that the final decision on the case will still be made by the court. This move could raise concerns among other political parties in Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif is currently in London and had requested the suspension of his sentence on medical grounds.
This development coincided with scheduled hearings for Nawaz Sharif at an accountability court in the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) and the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The court suspended Nawaz Sharif’s permanent warrant for the Toshakhana reference to allow him to appear. However, his permanent warrant could be restored if he fails to appear on this date.
In addition to the proceedings related to his sentence suspension, Nawaz Sharif is also scheduled to appear before the Islamabad High Court and surrender in a case filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The high court has granted protective bail to Nawaz Sharif in this case. He is also seeking the restoration of appeals against the accountability courts’ verdicts in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases.
Nawaz Sharif’s legal team has filed these petitions, requesting the court to hear the appeals on their merits, as they were previously discarded due to his non-return from London, where he was granted permission to travel for medical treatment. These developments are part of the ongoing legal proceedings related to Nawaz Sharif’s sentences in the Avenfield, Al-Azizia, and other references.