SC admits NAB appeal against suspension of Sharifs' sentences in Avenfield reference

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday admitted the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) appeal for hearing over the suspension of the prison sentences of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz in the Avenfield corruption reference.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel, was conducting preliminary hearing of the case.

The bench ordered that the defendants' bail in the case would be maintained while the NAB plea against the matter of the suspension of the sentences would be heard separately.

The apex court said it would see if there was any need to change the bench or constitute a larger bench to hear the appeal over the suspension of the sentences.

On July 6, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam, and son-in-law Capt (retd) Safdar were awarded 10 years, seven years, and one year imprisonment, respectively, in the Avenfield apartments corruption reference. However, on Sept 19, the Islamabad High Court suspended their sentences and gave a detailed judgment on the petitions filed by the Sharifs.

The next hearing of NAB's appeal against the IHC's suspension of the sentences will take place on December 12, 2018.