SC gives court Dec 24 deadline to announce Al-Azizia, Flagship references verdict

The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday again extended the deadline given to an accountability court to wrap up the remaining corruption references against the Sharif family.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar heading a two-member bench took up the petition by accountability court Judge Arshad Malik. The judge had requested an extension given to the court to conclude the remaining references-Al-Azizia and Flagship against deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family.

The CJP expressed his annoyance over the delay in the case proceedings. The top court judge asked Sharif's lawyer, Khawaja Haris how long he will be able to complete his argument regarding the references. The lawyer replied that he will complete his arguments by December 17, local media reported.

The CJP allowed him till December 17 to present his arguments and directed Judge Malik to announce his verdict by December 24. In November, the SC had given three-weeks time to the court to wrap up the corruption cases against the Sharif family filed by the National Accountability Bureau.