By Uzma Zafar
ISLAMABAD: Former premier Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (retd) Mohammad Safdar were released from Adiala prison Wednesday evening after the Islamabad High Court suspended their sentences in the Avenfield corruption reference.
The former premier, his daughter and son-in-law were taken to Benazir International Airport amid stringent security.
A large number of party workers accompanied the PML-N supremo to the airport. Jubilant workers were seen chanting slogans and showering the ex-premier’s vehicle with rose petals.
They reached Lahore through a special plane. PML-N supporters gathered outside Lahore airport, where they accorded a warm welcome to party leadership upon arrival in Lahore.
Nawaz was seen sitting in the front seat of the vehicle, waving his hand as the workers chanted slogans to welcome him.
Later, the caravan reached Sharifs’ residence in Jati Umra, where too scores of PML-N workers gathered to catch a sight of their leader.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif had arrived at Adiala prison to take the former premier with him. Shehbaz, along with party leaders, met Nawaz in the office of jail superintendent.
During the meeting, the former premier said, “I have not done anything wrong; my conscience is satisfied.” He told party leaders that Almighty Allah favours what is right and just. “Allah will grant justice to me,” Nawaz said.
Earlier in the day, the IHC suspended sentences of Nawaz, Maryam and Safdar in the Avenfield corruption reference.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, gave the judgment on petitions filed by the three convicts challenging the Avenfield verdict against them.
– NAB to challenge verdict in SC
ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to approach the Supreme Court against the Islamabad High Court (IHC) verdict that suspended the sentences of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar.
The decision was taken during a meeting on Wednesday chaired by the Chairman NAB Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal. The meeting was attended, among others, by the deputy chairman NAB, the prosecutor general (Accountability) and senior lawyers.
The NAB has 30 days to file the appeal beginning from September 19. – Agencies
