Judge who convicted Sharif recuses from hearing two other NAB cases

An anti-corruption court judge who sentenced former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to 10 years in jail in the Avenfield corruption case, has recused himself from hearing two more graft cases against the PML-N leader.

Judge Muhammad Bashir, who convicted Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son in-law Captain (retd) Safdar Awan, withdrew himself on Monday from hearing the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metals Establishment and Flagship and other references, the Express Tribune reported.

In his application seeking transfer of these references, Sharif's counsel Khawaja Haris said that since the evidences and the arguments in all three references were similar, the outcome may be the same if the same judge heard the case.

Judge Bashir said he had no objection if the cases were transferred as he could not hear these cases, according to reports.

The Islamabad accountability court on July 6 had found Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar guilty over their ownership of four luxury flats in the UK.

The three-time Premier was accused of having wealth beyond his income. However, the charges were denied by him and described as "politically-motivated".

He challenged his conviction on Monday and sought suspension of the guilty verdict.

Sharif's lawyers filed the petition in the Islamabad High Court, seeking his acquittal.

--IANS

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