Although Anwar Ibrahim has been convicted and sentenced to five years jail for sodomy by the Federal Court, it would seem that a review of his qazaf application (bearing false witness) at the Syariah courts has been left in the lurch.

It has been three years since the review application has been filed at the Kuala Lumpur Syariah Court of Appeal. However till today, no dates have been fixed.

This was confirmed by one of of his syarie lawyers Rafie Mohd Shafie ( left ).

"Till today we have not received any dates from the Syariah Court of Appeal," he told Malaysiakini today.

The Kuala Lumpur Syariah High Court had dismissed Anwar's qazaf application in 2011.

In the qazaf application, Anwar ( centre in above pix ) named the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom, the chief prosecuting officer of the Federal Territories Islamic Department (Jawi) and Jawi as the respondents.

Lawyers stage walkout

This led to Anwar filing an appeal with the Syariah Court of Appeal but instead of hearing submissions from Anwar's lawyers, it went ahead and allowed the respondents application that leave was not needed. The three-member panel wanted to hear the merits of the opposing aplication.

Dissatisfied in the manner in which the proceedings were conducted, Anwar's lawyers staged a walkout during the proceedings at the Syariah Court of Appeal following the questionable manner of the decision.

Anwar filed a review application against the Syariah Court of Appeal decision on Feb 21, 2012.

However, no dates have been fixed by the Syariah Court of Appeal for the matter as indicated by Rafie.

Qazaf or bearing false accusation was pursued by Anwar who wanted the religious authorities to take action against Anwar's sodomy complainant. Mohd Saiful Bukahri Azlan (right ).

Anwar had accused Saiful of not bringing four witnesses to support his accusation of the opposition leader.