The Islamabad High Court has ordered to restore the appeals of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif against his sentence in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia references of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Earlier today, the court had reserved its judgement, while the NAB had said that it did not have any objection if the appeals were restored.

A division bench of the high court, comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb, announced the verdict.

There is no order to arrest Nawaz Sharif in any court decision, NAB Prosecutor General Ehtisham Qadir said, adding that at the most, the court may seek new surety bonds from Nawaz Sharif.

The moment the petitioner surrendered, he presented himself at the mercy of the court, the prosecutor general argued, adding that the bureau did not require Nawaz Sharif’s arrest.

As far as the “girl” is concerned, Justice Aurangzeb remarked in reference to Maryam Nawaz, she has no role in the case.

To the extent of Maryam Nawaz, the court was told that when the Avenfield apartments were purchased she was 18 years old, Justice Aurangzeb said.

Lawyer Amjad Pervaiz said that when the court suspended the sentence, at that time the roles of all the accused were described separately. The court wrote in the verdict that without discussing the role of Nawaz Sharif, the appeals cannot be decided, he added.

The court had clarified in the acquittal verdict of Maryam Nawaz in the Avenfield reference. The court wrote in the verdict that the NAB failed to prove the role of Nawaz Sharif, he maintained.

The court said that the NAB was given several opportunities, but it changed its lawyers thrice, Amjad Pervaiz said.

If the appeals are restored, we will give arguments, the NAB prosecutor general remarked, adding that in the first stage, the bureau had no objection to the restoration of the appeals.

It is the observation of this court that when a proclaimed offender surrenders, they should be dealt with under the law, Ehtsham Qadir noted.

Post-hearing, the court staff ordered the police to confiscate the phones of everyone taking pictures with Nawaz Sharif. “Seize the phones of everyone taking pictures,” they said.

Don’t turn the court into a wrestling ring and switch off the phones, the staff ordered.