Khudayar Mohla
Islamabad, (TLTP) Supreme Court decided on Tuesday to hear top anti-graft body’s pleas seeking annulment of Islamabad High Court (IHC) verdict that suspended imprisonment of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif , his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain retired Muhammad Safdar in Avenfield reference.
Earlier, during the course of day, a three-member bench of Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Umar Ata Bandial was formed to hear the matter and notices were issued to parties of the case for Wednesday (today).
But later Registrar of the Supreme Court issued fresh cause list while replacing Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel with Justice Umar Atta Bandial for the special bench.
Registrar of the Supreme Court Arbab Muhammad Arif wrote reason of changing the bench in the fresh cause list that bench has been re-constituted by order of the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar.
While announcing decision in Avenfield reference on July 6,2018, Accountability court Islamabad had awarded 10 years sentence of imprisonment to Nawaz Sharif for owning assets beyond known sources of income, 7 years to Marraym for abetment and one year to Safdar for abetting and aiding to her wife and father-in-law in Mayfair properties in central London.
However, all the three convicted had invoked jurisdiction of the IHC for remedy while filing appeals against the Special court decision to which the IHC granted them bail till final adjudication of the appeals on September 19, 2018.
Challenging the IHC verdict on October 22, National Accountability Bureau urged the
Supreme Court to set aside the High Court verdict after deciding a number of questions of law saying the High Court failed to comprehend that law that questions of facts cannot be raised in the constitutional jurisdiction.
Re-constituted bench of the Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel shall hear appeals of the NAB on Wednesday (today) at 2pm.
Justice Umar Ata Bandial not recused from the special bench;
Meanwhile, dispelling the impression that Justice Umar Ata Bandial recused from the bench, spokesperson of the Supreme Court clarified that major reason for reconstitution of the bench was medical condition of Justice Umar Ata Bandial who was not feeling well. Terming news dissemination by televisions that Justice Umar Ata Bandial has recused from the bench baseless, concocted and false, spokesperson said that Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has taken notice over the situation while seeking explanation from CEO/Owners of the channels that aired such news asking them to appear before the Special bench, hearing the NAB pleas on Wednesday (today) at 2pm.
The Law Today Pakistan, commonly known as TLTP, is the largest news wire service, headquartered in Islamabad. The service is providing fast, comprehensive and verified news on superior courts adjudications, regulatory framework of fiscal, monitory and external sectors, economic regulatory bodies amid apex institutions regulating the financial system. TLTP is empowering readers of more than 12 national English dailies in the country.
