Daily Times

LAHORE: A petition against the sentence of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and Captain (r) Safdar was submitted in the Lahore High Court on Wednesday, seeking nullification of the punishment.

The plea was filed by Lawyers’ Foundation for Justice through renowned advocate AK Dogar.

In the petition, the court was requested to the declared punishment of the Sharif family null and void.

On July 6, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to 10 years in prison along with a fine of £8 million, while his daughter Maryam was sentenced to seven years with a £2 million fine in the Avenfield properties reference.

Nawaz’s son-in-law Capt (r) Safdar was given a one year sentence.

On July 9, Captain (r) Safdar, the son in law of the former prime minister was shifted to Adiala Jail.

Meanwhile, authorities said that Nawaz and Maryam, who were convicted in the Avenfield Apartments reference, would be sent to a jail in the ‘Better Class’ category by virtue of being a former parliamentarian, after being arrested.

But Maryam can avail the facility only if she proves that she has paid at least Rs 600,000 as annual income tax.

“They would have to submit an application requesting a Better Class jail, as it won’t automatically apply to them. Furthermore, the jails would not be furnished with an air-conditioner or a refrigerator,” they said.

“This is what the family can get under the law,” said a senior official of the home department on Tuesday. “Capt Safdar (f) can also get a Better Class jail after submitting an application. He had not applied for it in writing by Tuesday evening and was therefore not given a jail in that category,” an official source said.

Officials said that according to the legal procedure, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) would have to produce Nawaz and Maryam before the accountability judge who had convicted them. The judge will then give the NAB a warrant of contract, which would carry details of the punishment given to them and directions to the jail superintendent to take them into custody.

Officials said it is the judge who decides which prison the convicts will be kept in initially. But Nawaz andMaryam are likely to be confined to Adiala Jail, because it has a secluded high-security ward.

“The government cannot give them facilities not mentioned in the Prisons Rule. But it would have to ensure adequate security wherever the Sharif family members would be kept. They are nevertheless high profile prisoners,” said an official.

It might be mentioned that both Nawaz and Maryam had announced to return to Pakistan tomorrow (Friday).

Published in Daily Times, July 12^th 2018.