Fawad Ch reacts to dismissal of NAB’s appeal against Avenfield reference verdict

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Monday termed Supreme Court (SC) decision over National Accountability Bureau (NAB) plea against suspension of ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s sentence in Avenfield reference as per law.

In a tweet, Fawad said that unusual reasons are required to cancel the bail. Nawaz Sharif’s politics has ended forever, he added.

The minister further said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is an important political party, it should appoint new chairman.

Earlier today, SC dismissed an appeal filed by the NAB against suspension of sentence awarded to Nawaz Sharif in the Avenfield reference case. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar inquired from the NAB prosecutor about the grounds on which a bail could be cancelled. “You have approached the court for bail cancellation. So, what are the reasons?” he said.

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa pointing towards the NAB prosecutor said that you have stated that the IHC had keenly examined the substantial evidences in the case.

The accountability court on July 6, 2018, sentenced Sharif to 10 years rigorous imprisonment in the Avenfield properties case. The sentence extended to his daughter Maryam, and son-in-law Safdar with 7 years and 1 year of imprisonment, respectively.

The court had also imposed eight million pound fine on Sharif, while a fine of two million pound was imposed on his daughter Maryam.

On July 13, 2018, Sharif and his daughter Maryam were arrested on their arrival from London to Lahore, and subsequently were taken to the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

However, on September 19, 2018, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended their jail sentences, and ordered their release on bail with an immediate effect.

Later, the NAB challenged the IHC’s ruling in the SCP.