ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday in the Avenfield properties reference while his daughter Maryam was sentenced to seven years.
Accountability Court-I Judge Mohammad Bashir announced the sentence today after several delays since morning.
Nawaz's son-in-law Capt (retd) Safdar was given a one year sentence.
Moreover, Nawaz was fined £8 million and Maryam £2 million.
After setting three deadlines — 3pm, 2:30pm and 12:30pm — the court said it would announce the verdict at 3:30pm.
Nawaz Sharif sentenced to 10 years, Maryam 7 in Avenfield reference
However, the judge called lawyers of both sides inside his chambers and disallowed the media.
He then stated that the media will be called in when the judgment is being read out.
Earlier, the judge, present inside his chamber, had issued the delay notices through the court staff but the 3:30 pm deadline was informed of by the judge himself.
The judge explained that they have to make an appropriate number of photocopies of the judgment for distribution to the relevant parties — hence the delay.
All eyes are set on the accountability court hearing the high-profile corruption cases against the former prime minister and his family. Strict security arrangements, including paramilitary personnel, are in place at the Federal Judicial Complex, where the court is located. The roads leading to the complex have also been closed to traffic.
Moreover, the district administration has imposed Section 144 in the capital to discourage mass gatherings.
No comments:
Post a Comment