MANSEHRA – Former premier Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law Captain (retd) Mohammad Safdar, who is playing hide and seek after conviction in Avenfield verdict to escape the arrest, announced on Sunday that he will surrender to the authorities.
In an audio message sent by the PML-N’s media cell to journalists, the embattled leader, who was in the run for election from NA-14 constituency, said that he was willing for court arrest because honour demands it.
He added that the decision to appear before the authorities was made by the party leadership. He wished to be arrested in an area out of Mansehra, his native town.
Safdar has gone underground after the anti-graft buster obtained the arrest warrant against him following the verdict in the Avenfield case.
Safdar is reportedly in the wind from Saturday night, while the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has formed three teams which have been deployed in Haripur, Abbottabad, and Mansehra to detain the convict. But, the officials have still no clue about the whereabouts of Safdar.
On Friday, an accountability court sentenced the son-in-law of the former premier to one year in jail for cheating while announcing the verdict in a corruption reference pertaining to Sharif family’s Avenfield apartment in London, UK.
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Judge Muhammad Bashir also handed a 10-year sentence and £8 million (Rs1.29 billion) to Nawaz Sharif. He also sentenced Sharif’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz, to seven years in jail for forgery and making assets through illegal sources in the landmark decision. She has been ordered to pay a fine of £2 million (Rs320 million).
Moreover, the judge ordered to seal the property in question, suggesting the government to do legislation to bring plundered money back to the country.
Following the verdict, the NAB has also obtained arrest warrants of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam. NAB sources revealed that the former premier and his daughter will be arrested upon arrival to Pakistan from London.
Muhammad Sajjad, brother of Safdar, said that his brother was in consultation with his lawyer to obtain pre-arrest bail by challenging the verdict in the high court.
Safdar’s name has been included in blacklist on Saturday as was feared to flee the country, the anti-corruption watchdog said.
The Maryam’s husband, who was in the run for elections from NA-14 constituency, could not take part in elections as the accountability court has barred him and his spouse from contesting polls for ten years.
