Nawaz Sharif’s request to reopen appeals in two corruption charges has been postponed by a Pakistani court until November 27

As he gets ready to lead his party in the general elections, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s applications to renew appeals against his conviction in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia corruption trials were postponed by a Pakistani high court until November 27.

Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, who make up the Islamabad High Court (IHC) bench, heard arguments on the appeals from Sharif’s attorney, Azam Tarar, as well as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) legal team.

Following that, the bench instructed Tarar to make his points at the next hearing, which was postponed until Monday.

After almost four years of self-imposed exile in London, the 73-year-old three-time prime leader returned to Pakistan on October 21 and was present in court for the hearing. He is anticipated to take the helm of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the general elections that are scheduled for February 8 of the following year.

Sharif entered the courtroom under heavy protection. He was escorted by key PML-N leaders along with his brother, former premier Shehbaz Sharif.

In the Avenfiled case in July 2018, an accountability court found the PML-N supremo guilty of possessing unlawful properties in London and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

Along with her husband, Muhammad Safdar, his daughter Maryam Nawaz was also found not guilty in September 2022, despite having received a seven-year prison term in the case.

In December 2018, the former premier was also found guilty in the corruption case involving Al-Azizia Steel Mills and given a seven-year prison term.

He contested the sentence, but because he was in London, the appeal procedure was put on hold.

For medical reasons, he was permitted to go to London in November 2019 and returned in October, about four years later.

In December 2020, the IHC labeled him a proclaimed offender in both instances.

After almost four years away, the former premier finally left London last month and went to the IHC to reinstate his appeals, which he properly did.