ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) dismissed the NationalAccountability Bureau’s (NAB) plea on Wednesday to adjourn the hearing offormer prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s petition against his conviction, fortwo days.

A two-member bench of the IHC, comprising Justice Athar Minallah andJustice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, resumed hearing Nawaz’s petition for thesuspension of the accountability court’s verdict against him in theAvenfield properties reference.

During the hearing, Deputy Prosecutor General NAB, Sardar Muzaffar Abbasisought time to provide paragraph-wise comments in line with the request ofNawaz’s counsel Khawaja Harris.

Abbasi requested that he did not receive a copy of the court order on timeand so he needed some time.

Upon this, Justice Minallah remarked that the bench could not adjourn thehearing on these grounds.

The NAB counsel contended that he was not in town, however, the benchrejected his plea and Nawaz’s counsel continued presenting his argumentsbefore the court.

During the hearing, Justice Minallah observed that he was informed by theregistrar’s office that factually incorrect statements attributed to judgeswere aired on mainstream media after the last hearing, on August 13.

He clarified that the august court had taken serious notice of this and thematter is being forwarded to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

“Which bench were the incorrect statements received from?” he asked andadded that if judgments are passed on one’s wishes then there will be nojustice.

“We value the media but those who are indulging in this are involved incontempt of court,” the judge remarked.

Justice Minallah continued that for a fair trial, it is essential to havetrust in the legal system and if the procedure starts taking place outsidecourt then that comes under contempt of court.

He blatantly clarified that the bench was not under pressure and it has topass judgments based on law irrespective of the convict.