Nawaz Sharif, the three-time Prime Minister and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), who is 73 years old, made a significant return to Pakistan on Saturday after four years of self-imposed exile in London. This marked his first return to the country since departing from London.
In a notable development, Nawaz Sharif appeared before a local court on Tuesday, addressing various corruption cases that had been hanging in limbo due to his prolonged absence. These cases have now resumed, and his attendance at the Islamabad-based Accountability Court of Judge Muhammad Bashir held particular significance in showcasing his voluntary return to face these legal matters. Judge Muhammad Bashir, who had previously suspended arrest orders in the Toshakhana case to facilitate Sharif's return after four years, was the presiding judge for this appearance.
The purpose of this appearance was to demonstrate his surrender before the court, and once the judge officially confirmed his presence, Nawaz Sharif was permitted to leave the courtroom. It's worth noting that Judge Muhammad Bashir was the same judge who had convicted Sharif in the Avenfield case, and it was this judge who had suspended the arrest warrant until this Tuesday.
This legal saga involves several prominent figures, with Pakistan People's Party Co-chairman Asif Zardari and former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani also named as co-accused in the case.
Following this court appearance, Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to present himself before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in connection to the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases. The IHC had granted him protective bail until Tuesday, and Sharif had also filed petitions in the high court seeking the revival of his appeals against conviction.
In the Toshakhana case, Sharif's counsel Qazi Misbah submitted three separate applications in the accountability court earlier in the day. These applications cover the restoration of the annexed property in the case, the appointment of a pleader for Sharif, and the submission of his bail bonds.
Nawaz Sharif's legal journey is marked by his disqualification in 2017 and subsequent convictions in 2018 on charges of corruption. Throughout this process, he has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing and has consistently asserted that his convictions were orchestrated by powerful entities, often suggesting collusion between the establishment and the judiciary.
In the Avenfield Properties case, Sharif was convicted in July 2018 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Although he was arrested and incarcerated, he was subsequently released on bail while his appeals against conviction were pending. During this period, he left for the UK in 2019 on medical grounds, and he remained on bail at the time of his recent return to Pakistan.
In the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case, Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to seven years in jail in December 2018. However, the Islamabad High Court declared him a proclaimed offender in both cases in December 2020.
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