Pakistan Court Restores Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Right to Appeal 2018 Convictions

Sharif's potential return to politics, following end of self-imposed exile, now hinges on appeals to graft convictions; overturning of convictions could enable his re-election and a comeback for the Pakistan Muslim League party in upcoming January elections.

• A Pakistani court has restored former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's right to appeal his 2018 corruption convictions, a notable development less than a week after Sharif's return from a four-year self-imposed exile in London.
• If Sharif's convictions get overturned, he could be eligible to run for a seat in parliament in the upcoming January elections. Some analysts believe this could lead to a return to power for his party, the Pakistan Muslim League.
• Nawaz Sharif, who was elected PM three times but never completed his term, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by an anti-graft tribunal in 2018 over a case involving the purchase of luxury apartments in London. He was also sentenced to a further seven years on a separate corruption charge.
• Sharif's successor and main political rival, cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, is currently imprisoned on corruption charges and serving a three-year sentence. Despite this, Khan remains a leading opposition figure in Pakistan with a large following and a strong party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
• The Islamabad High Court has granted Sharif protection from arrest, enabling him to surrender before it. At a recent court hearing, the court extended his protection after the anti-corruption body said it had no intention of detaining him in connection with pending cases.

3 Articles

CNA Associated Press Reuters