Sharif challenges graft case conviction

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif along with his daughter Maryam and her husband on Monday filed an appeal against a court's verdict which sentenced them to lengthy prison terms over their ownership of properties in London.

An Accountability Court sentenced the former leader to a total of 11 years in prison and Maryam to eight years, reports Geo News. Nawaz's son-in-law Capt (retd) Mohammad Safdar was given a one-year sentence.

The appeal asks for the court's July 6 verdict to be declared null and void and the three convicts to be released on bail.

Maryam's legal counsel Amjad Pervaiz told the media that the court's verdict in the Avenfield reference was not in compliance with law.

"The accountability court's verdict is in contradiction with the law and declaring it void would serve justice," Pervaiz said. "Our case is very strong and on merit. We are right and we hope to get some relief."

Sharif and Maryam arrived in Pakistan from London on July 13. They were arrested on their arrival in Lahore. Safdar was arrested earlier on July 9.

The trial against the Sharif family commenced on September 14, 2017.

--IANS

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