Nawaz Sharif Sentenced: ISLAMABAD: Former most powerful Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to 10 years in prison and slapped a £8 million fine in the Avenfield properties reference on Friday while his daughter Maryam was sentenced to seven years with a £2 million fine.
Nawaz’s son-in-law Capt (retd) Safdar was given a one year sentence without any fine. As per Accountability Court-I Judge Mohammad Bashir announced the verdict today after several delays since morning. Moreover, the court also sentenced Maryam to one year in prison for submitting false documents in court.
The Accountability Court has also ruled that the Avenfield apartments of the Sharif family, in their possession since 1993, shall be seized by the federal government. The Avenfield properties reference was one of three filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) last year in light of the Supreme Court’s verdict against Nawaz in the Panama Papers case. The reference pertains to the ownership of the Sharif family’s apartments at Avenfield House, London.
Moreover, after the hearing, NAB Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi said the accused have 10 days to file an appeal against the verdict. In the written order of the court, the Supreme Court’s Panama Papers case verdict and work of the joint investigation team has been referred to, along with an interview of Nawaz’s son Hussain wherein he accepted ownership of the London properties.
Maryam, Safdar barred from elections Following the verdict, Maryam and Safdar stand barred from contesting the July general election from Lahore and Mansehra, respectively. Following the verdict, the Election Commission of Pakistan stated that Maryam’s name will be removed from the ballot papers of the NA-127 constituency after which new ballot papers will be printed.