Islamabad (Staff Report): The accountability court on Friday convicted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and his son-in-law Capt (retd) Safdar in Avenfield properties reference.
The court awarded ousted premier to 10 years and Maryam Nawaz to 7 years imprisonment in the Avenfield corruption reference, while Capt (retd) Safdar will also face one year jail term in the case.
Accountability Court-I Judge Mohammad Bashir announced the verdict.
Moreover, Nawaz and Maryam were also fined 8 and 2 million pounds respectively.
The court ordered to confiscate the property in question, suggesting the government to do legislation to bring plundered money back to the country.
Earlier the day, the court rejected Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz plea, seeking delay in Avenfield properties reference.
Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Safdar have been in London since June 14 tending to Kulsoom Nawaz, who is under medical treatment there.
Ahead of the expected verdict, a heavy contingent comprising Islamabad police, Rangers, and others has been deployed around the judicial complex, while roads leading to the accountability court have been closed.
Moreover, the district administration has imposed Section 144 in the capital to discourage mass gatherings.
On Thursday, the representative of Nawaz Sharif, Zafar Khan submitted the plea in the court, asking the court to delay the verdict. The statement of the plea reads that he won’t be able to appear before the court on Friday, due to Kulsoom Nawaz’s critical health.
The court, on Tuesday, reserved its judgment in the Avenfield reference, which pertains to the Park Lane apartments (flats 16, 16-A, 17, and 17-A Avenfield House, Park Lane) of the Sharif family, involving Nawaz Sharif, his three children, and son-in-law Capt (r) Safdar as the accused.
Nawaz and his family are facing three corruption cases in the accountability court after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed references against them in light of the Supreme Court's verdict in the Panama Papers case last year.
Nawaz and his sons, Hussain and Hasan, are accused in all three references whereas his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Safdar are accused in the Avenfield reference only.
Nawaz’s sons, Hasan and Hussain, have already been declared absconders in the case.