Pak's SC issues notices to Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz

Pakistan's Supreme Court Wednesday issued notices to deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz on an appeal filed by the country's top anti-graft agency challenging the suspension of their sentences in a corruption case.

The National Accountability Bureau had filed a plea on Monday challenging the September 19 Islamabad High Court order which suspended the jail sentences of Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law retired captain Mohammad Safdar in the Avenfield corruption case.

In its petition, the accountability bureau asked for declaring the High court order null and void. It prayed the apex court to restore the sentences given to the Sharifs and to cancel the bail granted to the three accused in the



case.

Hearing the plea,  the bench headed by Chief Justice Nisar yesterday sent notices to Sharif and his daughter. 

Sharif was sentenced 11 years, Maryam eight years and Safdar one year in prison in the Avenfield properties case related to their purchase of four luxury flats in London through corrupt practices.

Apart from the Avenfield case, the Sharifs face jail terms if they are convicted in two more corruption cases related to Al-Azizia and Flagship cases. The cases against the Sharif family stemmed from the leaked Panama Papers in April 2016.

The three were also disqualified to contest elections or to hold public office for a period of 10 years after their release from prison.