Captain Safdar's name blacklisted after Avenfield reference verdict

ISLAMABAD - The name of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law, Captain (r) Safdar has been included in blacklist on Saturday, a day after the Avenfield reference verdict was announced.

According to the details, the development came after interior ministry recommended to put names of Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Captain (r) Safdar on Exit Control List (ECL) to bar their offshore tours.

Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam are already in London, however, with the latest restriction, the former lawmaker would not be able to travel abroad either through aerial or marine route.

According to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Capt (retd) Mohammad Safdar was feared to flee the country however, he will be detained as soon as his arrest warrants are received.



NAB has been asking the interior ministry from as early as February to put names of Sharif family on ECL, however, the requests were turned down and Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz left the country to tend to ailing Kulsoom Nawaz.

Earlier on Friday, judge Muhammad Bashir handed a 10-year sentence and £8 million (Rs1.29 billion) to Pakistan’s former prime minister in a corruption reference pertaining to Sharif family’s Avenfield apartment in London, UK.

In the detailed decision, Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir 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.

Capt (r) Safdar Awan, who is the son-in-law of Nawaz Sharif, was jailed for one year for cheating- he is currently in Pakistan campaigning for elections, however, he has been barred from electoral politics for a span of 10 years.