We have to determine if Nawaz Sharif is deliberately avoiding court appearances or not: IHC

(Karachi) The Islamabad High Court (IHC) said on Wednesday that we have to determine whether former premier Nawaz Sharif is deliberately avoiding court appearances or not.

A divisional bench of the IHC, comprising Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, was hearing Nawaz Sharif’s plea in Al-Azizia and Avenfield references.

During hearing of the case, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani said: “The suspect must be sitting in London and laughing at the government and the public. It is a matter of extreme humiliation.” He maintained, "We have to see if Nawaz Sharif is deliberately avoiding court appearances or not.”

The court stated that the behavior of PML-N leader is a shameful act. It stated the suspect fled London by deceiving the government and the people of the country.

Meanwhile, the Additional Attorney General submitted a report on the implementation of Nawaz Sharif’s arrest warrants in the court.

The additional attorney general told the court that the former prime minister again refused to receive arrest warrants at his London residence. He stated that an official of the Pakistani Embassy in UK reached the former prime minister’s residence to deliver his arrest warrants, but no one received it.

After hearing the arguments, the court decided to record the statement of Pakistani Embassy official via video link on October 7 and adjourned the hearing.

Earlier, the Islamabad High Court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Al-Azizia case after the PML-N supreme leader failed to surrender to authorities.

The IHC also dismissed the PML-N leader’s three miscellaneous applications, requesting the court to forgo the requirement of his surrender; to allow him pursue the appeals against his conviction through a legal representative and to grant him exemption from court appearance.

Taking up Nawaz’s appeal against his conviction in Al-Azizia reference on September 1, a special division bench of the IHC directed the former PM to appear in the court on September 10 or face court proceedings to declare him an absconder.

An IHC bench on October 29, 2019 granted eight-week bail to Nawaz in Al-Azizia case in view of his deteriorating health condition. The PML-N leader has been in London since November 2019.