IHC adjourns hearing of Avenfield reference against Maryam Nawaz

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday adjourned the hearing on appeals of PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz and her husband retired captain Mohammad Safdar against their conviction in the Avenfield reference after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor filed an application for the same.

According to details, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz appeared before the court.

During the proceedings, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) requested the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to adjourn the hearing without any proceedings.

NAB prosecutor told that he is suffering from fever due to which the doctor has advised him to quarantine himself. “It is, therefore, requested to defer the hearing on the appeals”, he pleaded the IHC.

Subsequently, the court has adjourned the hearing till January 18.

While talking to media outside the court, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz has said that her father, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, will soon return to Pakistan.

She said that her father is desperate to return to the country and will do so soon. "Pakistan is his country," she added.

Referring to PTI's recent defeat in the 2021 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Elections, Maryam Nawaz remarked, "Imran Khan's time has come to an end. He is stuck under the burden of his own performance and can't stay in power for long".

Earlier, NAB had approached IHC for cancellation of bail of PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz. The anti-graft watchdog’s petition filed under Article 199, stated that Maryam Nawaz misused her bail. NAB prayed the court to cancel her bail.

It is pertinent to remember that an accountability court on July 06, 2018 had sentenced former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (r) Muhammad Safdar for 10, 7 and 1 year in jail respectively, in Avenfield properties reference case filed by the NAB.

NAB’s prosecutor had argued law turns onus of proof on accused after ownership of flats [by Sharifs] has been established.

He said, “The agreement of money transfer turned out to be fake. Likewise, the deed declaring Maryam Nawaz trustee was also proved fake. She possesses assets beyond her declared source of income.”

NAB prosecutor further added Sharifs had not registered ‘Calibri font’ trust deed in UK. He said, “Maryam Nawaz crafted this trust deed and declared his brother beneficial owner.”

Maryam Nawaz and Captain (r) Safdar, who were candidates for the general elections 2018, were also disqualified from contesting elections for 10 years each.

The sentence and a fine of 8 million pounds, or $10.6 million, came almost a year after Supreme Court removed Sharif from office and less than five months after the court barred him from holding office for life.