Tag: Avenfield reference case

  • Nawaz Sharif free in Avenfield apartments reference

    Nawaz Sharif free in Avenfield apartments reference

    In a massive relief for the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), the Islamabad High Court (IHC) acquitted PML-N supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Avenfield reference on Wednesday.

    The verdict was announced by a two-member bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb.

    Nawaz Sharif was facing a 10-year jail sentence in the Avenfield properties corruption reference since July 2018, charged with owning assets beyond known income. An additional one-year sentence was imposed for non-cooperation with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), both to be served concurrently.

    Having been declared a proclaimed offender in two cases, Al-Azizia and Avenfield, in December 2020, Nawaz Sharif spent nearly four years in London on medical grounds before returning to Pakistan last month. Upon his return, he sought the restoration of appeals against his convictions, which had been dismissed for non-prosecution during his medical stay abroad.

    The second case against Nawaz was the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference, for which Nawaz Sharif received a seven-year jail term on December 24, 2018, accompanied by a fine of Rs1.5 billion and US$25 million. The decision for this case is yet to be taken. 

    The IHC restored these appeals in a decision last month, leading to today’s pivotal hearing. Nawaz Sharif’s legal counsel, Amjad Pervaiz, argued before the court, pointing out perceived loopholes in the Avenfield reference.

    Nawaz’s lawyer Amjad Pervaiz questioned the ownership of the properties, arguing that there was neither verbal nor documented evidence indicating Nawaz’s ownership. The defense emphasized the lack of evidence proving that Maryam Nawaz and other family members were under Nawaz’s patronage.

    Pervez argued that the NAB failed to prove any of the allegations against Nawaz Sharif. “The properties in question were acquired at different times, with some being acquired between 1993 and 1996. The appellant had no connection to these properties, and the prosecution did not clarify their relation to the properties in the reference.”

    He said that Wajid Zia, former DG FIA, admitted that there was no evidence to establish Nawaz Sharif’s connection to the properties. The charge sheet stated that the assets were not in accordance with declared assets.

    The court based the sentence on assumptions, and the decision was generally written without specific evidence. It was written that children are generally under the guardianship of their father, he said.

  • Maryam Nawaz, Capt Safdar acquitted in Avenfield case

    Maryam Nawaz, Capt Safdar acquitted in Avenfield case

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday acquitted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar in the Avenfield reference, nullifying the conviction handed to them in 2018 by an accountability court.

    A two-member bench, comprising of Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, presided over today’s hearing during which the court heard arguments from both sides.

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif was handed 10 years as jail time for owning assets beyond known income and one year for not cooperating with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Meanwhile, Maryam was given 7 years for abetment after she was found “Instrumental in concealment of the properties of her father” and one year for non-cooperation with the bureau.

    Safdar was given one year jail time — for not cooperating with NAB, and aiding and abetting Nawaz and Maryam.

    Congratulating Maryam and Capt Safdar, PM Shehbaz tweeted, “The edifice of lies, slander & character assassination has come crumbling down today.”

    “Maryam Nawaz’s acquittal in the Avenfield Reference is a slap in the face of so-called accountability system that was employed to target Sharif family,” tweeted the PM.

    Maryam also received a phone call from her father, she congratulated him for the win.

    Later, talking to the media, Maryam said that she was thankful to Allah for making Nawaz and her proud today.

    Maryam asked PTI Chairman Imran Khan what would he do now as he has been proven “a liar” and “a conspirator”, while Nawaz has come out on top.

    Maryam told Khan that he is a “helpless” person now and whether or not he decides to answer for his deeds, history will ensure that you answer for it.

    In response to a question that the case was registered against her before PTI came into power and that some other powers were behind it, Maryam said: “Who was the beneficiary of all this? Had Nawaz remained here, then even in three lifetimes, Imran could not have come into power.”

  • Maryam Nawaz to appoint new lawyer for Avenfield reference case

    Maryam Nawaz to appoint new lawyer for Avenfield reference case

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has said that her lawyer Amjad Pervez has recused himself from the case because of his health condition after he had contracted Covid-19.

    “I told him to contest my case, and until he recovers, I will arrange another counsel for my case,” said Maryam.

    A journalist questioned Maryam whether Pakistan should recognise the new Taliban government in Afghanistan.

    Maryam responded, “Pakistan must accept the will of the Afghan people and refrain from imposing its decision on Afghanistan.”

    The PML-N leader said Afghanistan was a sovereign country and insisted that Pakistan must not interfere in the internal matters of the neighbouring country.