Shattering hopes for Nawaz Sharif, Pakistani Court denies bail; adjourned hearing until polls finished

Islamabad, July 18: Shattering the hopes of ousted PM Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz of getting bail, a Pakistan court on Tuesday adjourned until last week of July. Notably, Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Capt Safdar were convicted in the Avenfield corruption case.

 

Aiming to bring a boost in the election campaign before general polls which is scheduled to be held on July 25, ousted PM Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz filed a bail plea in Pakistan’s court. However, a Pakistani court adjourned until last week of July the hearing of appeals.

A two-member bench of Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the appeals and issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and also ordered to present the record of the case.

The bench adjourned the hearing till last week of July which effectively means that hearing will be held after July 25 which will be observed as a holiday to let people cast votes. The court also refused to suspend the conviction in the case until the appeals were decided.

Pakistan’s accountability court pronounced former PM Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam, and son-in-law Captain Safdar guilty in the Avenfield corruption reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the Supreme Court's directives in the landmark Panamagate verdict last year which deseated then PM Nawaz.

Nawaz Sharif was sentenced for 10 years, while his daughter Maryam Nawaz seven years, and Capt Safdar has been given 1-year prison term. Nawaj have also been handed a fine of 8 million pounds, while Maryam has been fined 2m pounds.