LAHORE – Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law captain (r) Safdar on Saturday filed a reply in the Supreme Court (SC) to National Accountability Bureau’s plea challenging Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) suspension of their sentences in the Avenfield properties case.
Nawaz, Maryam and Capt (r) Safdar were sentenced to 11 years, eight years and one year, respectively, in prison in the Avenfield properties reference.
The Sharifs in their reply requested the apex court to maintain the high court’s verdict of suspension of their sentences.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/ihc-to-announce-much-awaited-verdict-on-sharifs-petition-against-avenfield-reference-conviction/
“The [IHC’s] verdict is based on the facts and the NAB has failed to prove its stance,” they said in their reply.
Last month, the NAB had challenged IHC’s suspension of sentences given to Nawaz, Maryam and Safdar in the Supreme Court.
NAB challenges IHC decision suspending sentences of Nawaz, Maryam and Safdar in SC.
In its petition, the anti-graft body had stated that the high court did not correctly examine the evidence in the case. It had moved the apex court to declare the IHC’s Sept 19 verdict null and void.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/ihc-cites-glaring-defects-in-avenfield-convictions-issues-detailed-judgment-on-suspension-of-sharifs-sentences/
The IHC had on Sept 19 suspended sentences handed to the three in the Avenfield corruption reference and ordered their release.
Justice Athar Minallah had read the judgment and suspended the sentences handed to the Nawaz and others by accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir on July 6.
Ordering their release, the two-judge bench had directed the former premier, his daughter and son-in-law to submit bail bonds worth Rs0.5 million each.
Earlier, the supreme court hinted at overturning the verdict of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) pertaining to the suspension of the sentences awarded to members of Sharif family in the Avenfield verdict.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/sc-to-hear-nab-appeal-against-sharifs-bail-today/
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar heard a petition filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) challenging the IHC verdict.
Khawaja Harris appeared in the court on the behalf of the Sharifs while Akram Qureshi represented the anti-graft buster in the case.
During the hearing, the top judge remarked: “In the prima facie, there seems no other way apart from suspending the ruling of the high court”.
