Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister and top leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), thanked God on Wednesday after the Islamabad High Court found him not guilty of the Avenfield graft case.
Earlier in the day, the three-time former prime minister was found not guilty in the Avenfield reference case. In that case, he was given a 10-year prison term and an £8 million (Rs1.92 billion) fine in 2018.
Later in December 2018, Nawaz was given a harsh prison term of seven years, a fine of Rs1.2 billion, and a payment of $25 million after an accountability court found him guilty in the Al-Azizia case. Afterwards, he made appeals to the IHC against his sentences.
In a short interview with the media after the court’s ruling, Sharif said, “Thanks to Allah that today justice was done for me.” I had trusted Allah with my life, and today Allah has proved me right. I’m grateful to God.
When asked why Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan wasn’t running in intra-party polls, the former prime minister said, “This is the law of nature.”
After that, he hugged Ishaq Dar, a top PML-N leader, and left.
After the ruling, PML-N supporters outside the court began chanting slogans in support of Nawaz Sharif.
At the same time, Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz’s brother and party leader, thanked the courts for doing what was right. His words, “Thanks to Allah, we have reached this day when my leader, elder brother, party, and family have been cleared.”
Shehbaz said that his brother was not guilty and that God had cleared him of all charges today.
In the end, the PML-N president praised Nawaz Sharif’s strength in the face of political opponents, saying that his boss never lost courage, even when things were at their worst.
Maryam Nawaz, Nawaz’s daughter and the party’s Senior Vice President, also praised the court’s ruling, saying it showed how strong people can be when they are being mistreated.
“When someone trusts Allah with their life even though they are going through injustice, Allah makes that person look great in the eyes of everyone!” Thanks be to God!” Maryam wrote on his proper X account.
