ISLAMABAD, Jul 6 (APP):The Accountability Court on Friday awarded ten years rigorous imprisonment and eight million pounds fine to former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in Avenfield property reference under the charge of concealment of assets.
The court also awarded Nawaz Sharif imprisonment for another year under Serial No. 2 Schedule of the NAB Ordinance. Both the sentences shall run concurrently.
Meanwhile, Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of Nawaz Sharif, was given seven years rigorous imprisonment by the same court with a two million pounds fine. She was charged with committing forgery, aiding, assisting, abetting, attempting and acting in conspiracy with her father, who was holder of a public office.
The third accused Capt (Retd) Muhammad Safdar was awarded one year imprisonment by the court in the same reference.
The court also disqualified all the accused to contest any election or to hold public office for ten years.
The court directed to confiscate the Avenfield apartments and decided to issue non-bailable arrest warrants of Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, while declaring them proclaimed offenders.
The order stated that the trust deeds produced by the accused Maryam Nawaz were found bogus. The accused Maryam Nawaz was instrumental in concealment of the property of his father Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
Maryam Nawaz aided and assisted her father as stated in the decision, adding that the prosecution had succeeded to establish her guilt within the meaning of Section 9(a)(v)(xii) NAO. 199.
She was also awarded simple imprisonment for another year under Serial No 2 Schedule of NAB Ordinance.
The court order stated that the third accused Muhammad Safdar had signed the trust deed as a witness. He also aided, assisted and acted in the conspiracy with the accused Mian Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz. Muhammad Safdar is convicted and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for one year.
The decision reads “Avenfield apartments No. 16, 16-1, 17 and 17-1 stand forfeited to federal government within the meaning of 10(a) of NAO, 1999.”
The order further reads: “The accused shall be disqualified to contest election or to hold public office for a period of ten years to be reckoned from the date he is released after serving the sentence and they shall not be allowed to apply for or to be granted or allowed financial facilities in the form of loan etc for a period of ten years from the date of their conviction.”
The court decided that accused Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz were absconding, therefore, they were declared proclaimed offenders and non-bailable perpetual warrants of arrest would be issued against them.
