In a significant development, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been acquitted in the Avenfield corruption case by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). This verdict comes as a relief for Sharif, as it paves the way for him to contest in the upcoming elections. The IHC bench, headed by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, made the announcement after hearing the appeal filed by Sharif against his conviction. The Avenfield corruption case dates back to 2018 when Sharif was sentenced to 10 years in jail for possessing assets beyond his known income.

Additionally, he was handed an additional one-year term for non-cooperation with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The trial court had acquitted Sharif in the Flagship corruption case in the same year. However, the NAB challenged his acquittal in the IHC. Furthermore, Sharif was sentenced to seven years in jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference in December 2018. He was also fined Rs1.5 billion and US$25 million. In December 2020, he was declared a proclaimed offender in both cases while he was in London for medical reasons.

Recently, upon his return to Pakistan, Sharif filed applications seeking the revival of his appeals against the convictions in both references. The IHC had restored the appeals, and during the recent hearing, his counsel, Amjad Pervaiz, pointed out discrepancies in the Avenfield reference. He argued that the anti-corruption watchdog had faced constraints and that the outcome would have been different if they had been allowed to act independently. Amid tight security, Sharif arrived in court for the hearing, accompanied by senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders.

The IHC's verdict in favor of Sharif in the Avenfield corruption case provides him with a chance to regain his political standing and participate in the upcoming elections. It is important to note that the Islamabad High Court's decision is subject to further legal proceedings, and the implications of this acquittal on Sharif's political career and the country's political landscape are yet to be determined. Nonetheless, this development marks a significant milestone in the ongoing legal battles involving the former prime minister.