IHC fixes Maryam and Safdar appeals in Avenfield reference for hearing on July 15.

ISLAMABAD -- The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has fixed July 15 as next date for proceedings in appeals of PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz and her husband Capt (R) Safdar Awan against their conviction in the Avenfield Apartments reference.

A division bench of IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhter Kayani will conduct hearing of the appeals.

Previously, Maryam's counsel Amjad Pervez requested the court to put off hearing of the appeals at least for three weeks mentioning that he has just recovered from Covid-19 and his back was still hurting.

However, Justice Aamer observed that the court would fix the appeals for hearing once or twice in a week. Then, the petitioners' lawyer Amjad Pervaiz prayed to the court to grant three weeks for preparation of his arguments in the case as he had suffered from COVID-19.

Justice Farooq remarked that the court could make sitting arrangements for the lawyer to give arguments. The lawyer, however, said that he was still facing health problems and needed more time.

Justice IHC said that the court could not further delay the case. Then, the lawyer said that he needed time to prepare arguments as he would also present some case references before the bench.

The IHC bench said that if the petitioner's lawyer was not ready for arguments then this court could hear arguments from National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi.

The court also separated appeals of NAB and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif from Maryam Nawaz...