LAHORE: The interim Punjab government has suspended the sentence of former three-time prime minister and PML-N supremo Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference.

Details of Nawaz Sharif’s suspension of sentence in the Al-Azizia reference have come to light. On behalf of Nawaz Sharif, a request was made to the Punjab government to suspend the sentence in the Al-Azizia reference.

On the video link, Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer Azam Nazir Tarar and Amjad Parvez gave strong arguments for the suspension of the sentence.

The Punjab Chief Secretary was also present along with caretaker Punjab Cabinet during the Punjab Cabinet meeting.

The Caretaker Punjab Government unanimously approved the request by the PML-N lawyers for suspension of the punishment of former Nawaz Sharif.

Caretaker Punjab Information Minister Aamir Mir confirmed the Punjab cabinet’s move.

The approval was given through a circulation summary. “The final decision of the case will be taken by the court itself,” Mir added.

It should be noted that under Criminal Procedural Code Section 401, the government has the power to suspend the punishment of the criminal.

The development comes on the day when Nawaz is attending several hearings at an accountability court at the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) and the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

On July 6, 2018, the accountability court sentenced Nawaz Sharif 10 years in prison in the Avenfield reference, while the Islamabad High Court suspended the sentences on merit and released Maryam Nawaz and Captain Safdar on September 19, 2018.

Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to 10 years in prison on 24 December 2018 in the Al-Azizia reference. A two-member bench of the Lahore High Court granted bail to Nawaz Sharif on medical grounds on October 31.