The Islamabad High Court has overturned the conviction of Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar in the Avenfield properties corruption case. Maryam and Safdar were found guilty in July 2018, weeks before the general elections. Maryam was sentenced to seven-year imprisonment for being instrumental in the concealment of Nawaz Sharif’s properties. One year imprisonment was announced for Capt Safdar for not cooperating with NAB.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also took to Twitter to lend his support to Maryam after the court ruled in her favour.
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. My congratulations to Maryam Beti & Safdar
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) September 29, 2022
In today’s hearing, Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani presided over the hearing. According to Justice Farooq, Nawaz was not related to the case despite the Sharif family admitting to owning the properties.
Similarly, Justice Kiyani remarked that NAB had prepared the case against Maryam only and Nawaz was not mentioned in the case. Justice Farooq added that if the property was in the daughter’s name it did not mean her father owned it.
Justice Kayani added that even if they admitted to owning the properties while standing on the rostrum, the prosecution still had to provide evidence against them. He also said that NAB may have reported a valid case, but has failed to prove the case against them.
When the prosecutor of NAB said that the Sharif family had submitted no document to defend themselves, Justice Farooq pointed out that it was the job of NAB to submit proof against the family.
