'Black Day': Shehbaz Sharif criticises Avenfield reference verdict against Nawaz, Maryam

LAHORE - The president of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), and former chief minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif held a press conference on Friday soon after the Avenfield corruption reference verdict was announced by accountability judge Muhammad Bashir.

"This will be remembered as a black day in history," Shahbaz said, adding that his brother Nawaz appeared before the accountability court 109 times.

The ex-CM insisted that elder Sharif's name was not even mentioned in the infamous Panama papers.

https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/sharifs-guilty-or-innocent-pakistan-awaits-accountability-courts-verdict-in-avenfield-case-today/

"They were calling him everyday. They even spoke of holding hearings on weekends," Shahbaz asserted.

The younger Sharif said that there were other cases in which corruption had been proven in black and white and yet no verdicts were announced against the culprits.

"Supreme Court Judge Rehmat Hussain Jaffrey in the Nandipur case said in the commission report that Babar Awan is the one responsible for it and should be acted against — and yet no action was taken against him," he decried while presenting an example of the case.

https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/avenfield-verdict-maryam-captain-safdar-barred-from-contesting-polls-for-10-years/

"The person they did choose to announce a verdict against was Nawaz Sharif. No one can deny that Nawaz made Pakistan a nuclear power," Shahbaz said while recounting a list of the "many gifts" his brother has given to the nation.

"Voters will make their decision on July 25. We will adopt all legal options available for justice," he claimed.

https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1015207402977841154

"I will personally go to all corners of Pakistan and tell the people about this injustice and then on July 25 after saying fajr prayers, the people will cast their votes and give their ultimate verdict," said Shehbaz.

https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1015211197963165696

Earlier, an accountability court in Islamabad sentenced Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Captain (r) Safdar to 10, 7 and 1 year in jail, respectively.

Highlights

• Nawaz Sharif gets 10 years in prison, Maryam seven, and Capt (r) Safdar one year


• The ex-PM ordered to pay a fine of £8 million (Rs1.29 billion)


• Maryam Nawaz barred from contesting elections for next 10 years


• Avenfield properties to be sealed on court orders


• Perpetual arrest warrants issued for Sharif’s two sons – Hassan and Hussain


• The much-awaited verdict was announced at 04:30pm, after delayed for fourth time


• Accountability judge dismisses Nawaz Sharif’s plea to postpone the decision


• Strict security arrangements in place at Islamabad’s Federal Judicial Complex
  PML-N workers to re