The Islamabad High Court has been prayed to separately hear the appeals of the Sharif family members in the event of the absence of Nawaz Sharif, reported 24 NewsHD TV channel.

The Islamabad High Court was hearing appeals against the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif and her husband Capt ® Muhammad Safdar Awan in Al Azizia, Avenfield and Flagship references in Islamabad on Wednesday.

A two-member bench of IHC consisting of Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani was hearing the petitions. 

While arguing the case, the PML-N counsel Azam Nazir Tarar told the court that the constitution stops the rejection of appeal on appeal merit. He said if the court heard Nawaz’s appeal in his absence, it would be the wastage of the court’s time. He argued that his appeal could be adjourned. But the appeals of the co-accused could be heard by separating their petitions from the petition of Nawaz’s appeal. 

Mr Tarar informed the court that there were judicial precedents in which the appeals of the co-accused were heard separately.

He argued that with these appeals the judge's video scandal and other matters were also attached. He said that it might happen tomorrow that Nawaz would claim that his case was a video scandal. 

Yesterday, some interesting facts came to light during former Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, Mr Tarar said. 

However, the court asked Mr Tarar not to talk about Justice Siddiqui's case.

Justice Farooq told Mr Tarar that Justice Siddiqui’s issue was not about them, so better not to talk about that. 

But Mr Tarar said all things were interconnected in these cases. 

Justice Farooq said we had nothing to do with whose case we were dealing. We decide cases on merit, he added. 

Mr Tarar said he had ordered some copies of judgements from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Karachi and he would present his further arguments during next hearing.  

Justice Farooq said that before this court, appeals of two other co-accused were also there. 

Justice Kiyani told Mr Tarar that his point of view was that the court had to face the criticism. He said whatever the decision, one party would definitely criticize the decision.

Justice Farooq said that the appeals of two co-accused in these appeals could not be kept pending. 

Mr Tarar said if the court felt at any stage that the it could not hear separate appeals, then it could adjourn the hearing.  

After hearing Mr Tarar, the court adjourned the hearing till June 23 in order to give him more time so that he could present new arguments in support of his case.

Reporter Ehtisham Kiyani