Punjab caretakers suspend Nawaz’s sentence in Al-Azizia reference

In a surprise move, the Punjab caretaker government has suspended the sentence of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference.

According to Asim Naseer of Samaa TV, the Punjab caretaker government has used its power under Section 401 of the Criminal Procedure Code to suspend the sentence.

Nawaz Sharif’s sentence was also suspended before travelling to London in 2019, when Usman Buzdar was the Chief Minister.

Caretaker Punjab Information Minister Amir Mir confirmed to Samaa that the government has suspended the sentence of former prime minister by using its constitutional authority.

He also clarified that the caretaker government can only suspend the sentence, not end it completely.

An accountability court sentenced the former prime minister to seven years imprisonment in 2018 in the Al-Azizia steel mills corruption case.

The senior politician is also ready to appear in the Toshakhana case before Judge Muhammad Bashir at the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC).

According to the court, the permanent arrest warrant of Nawaz Sharif has been suspended, but if he doesn’t appear before the court, the warrants will be restored.