Nawaz, Maryam and Safdar released from Adiala jail

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.

Nawaz met his mother upon reaching home. The ex-premier's mother expressed delight seeing her son and prayed for their well-being.

Was sure Allah will grant justice to me: Nawaz

Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif 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, Nawaz said that Almighty Allah favours what is right and just. The former premier said he firmly believed that Almighty Allah would grant justice to him.

He said he was not involved in any wrongdoing, which is why his conscience was satisfied and he was sure of his innocence.

IHC suspends Avenfield sentences

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.

Justice Minallah read the judgment and suspended the sentences handed to the three by accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir on July 6. The sentences will remain suspended till the final adjudication of the appeals filed by the petitioners.

Sharifs' sentencing

On July 6, accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir had convicted Nawaz, Maryam and Capt (retd) Safdar in the Avenfield properties reference and sentenced them to 11, eight and one year, respectively.

Nawaz and Maryam were arrested on July 13 upon arrival in Lahore from London. They had filed appeals for the Avenfield verdict to be overturned on July 16.

Reacting to the development, Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz Wednesday said that "truth remains truth and justice is done by Almighty Allah."

Hamza said they were thankful to Almighty Allah, adding, "Would that Mian sahib were able to tend to his ailing wife in her last days."

He, however, said that it was a great day today as the court ordered release of their leader.

"It was written in the accountability court verdict that Nawaz had not been involved in corruption," the opposition leader noted, saying that soon Nawaz would be among them.

"Mian sahib considered fulfilling his duty more important than tending to his ailing wife," he said.

"We are clean and we will face the cases courageously."

Hamza further said that it had been proven that the accountability court's verdict against former premier Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law was "weak."