ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a high-level meeting of party members, hours after the accountability court sentenced former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to seven years in prison in a graft reference.
The premier – who had filed a petition to probe the Panama papers case in 2017 which became a reason for corruption probe against then prime minister – had summoned the party leaders as the NAB court announced its verdicts in Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference and Flagship Investment reference.
According to Geo News, the premier sought the opinion of his party leaders over the conviction of the supreme leader of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz in one of the references.
“The PM personally gave directions to the party spokesperson to issue a reaction in this regard,” sources informed.
Accountability Court II Judge Arshad Malik announced the verdict in Flagship Investment and Al-Azizia references against the Sharif family on Monday.
The senior Sharif was sentenced to seven years in prison in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case besides a fine worth $25 million.
The 68-year-old was, however, acquitted by the anti-graft court in Flagship reference; the judge said that there was no case against Nawaz Sharif.
The court had reserved judgment in both the references on December 19, 2018.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to file an appeal against the acquittal of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Flagship Investment reference.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/what-is-flagship-reference-and-why-was-nawaz-sharif-acquitted-in-it/
An accountability court has also accepted a plea filed by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif seeking approval to serve his term in Kot Lakhpat jail Lahore instead of Adiala jail.
