Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader Nawaz Sharif got a big relief before the parliamentary elections in Pakistan. On Tuesday, the Islamabad High Court acquitted him in the Al Azizia corruption case.
Nawaz went to jail after being convicted in three corruption cases during his tenure as prime minister. After four years of ‘exile’ abroad, he was released from three cases within a month and a half of returning home.
The election of the lower house of the Pakistan Parliament “National Assembly” will be held on February 8. Sharif’s acquittal from all the cases before him fueled speculation of his prime ministership.
Nawaz was found guilty in the Al Azizia Steel corruption case on 24 December 2018. He was sentenced to seven years in prison by Lahore Anti-Corruption Court Judge Arshad Malik. He also had to spend days in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore.
Nawaz was deposed on July 28, 2017 on the order of the Supreme Court due to his involvement in the Panama Papers case. The Supreme Court of Pakistan said that he cannot hold any position in the party for life. He was accused of hiding huge amount of assets other than income. After a few days of imprisonment, he went into voluntary exile in London through government mediation.
