Pak anti-graft body to challenge release of Sharif, daughter and son-in-law in Supreme Court

Pakistan's anti-graft body Thursday decided to challenge in the Supreme Court the suspension of the jail sentences of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law in a corruption case, according to a media report.

The Islamabad High Court Wednesday suspended the jail sentences of Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar in the Avenfield corruption case and they were released from the Adiala Prison in Rawalpindi, in a blow to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The decision to file the appeal in the apex court was made in a meeting chaired by NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, Prosecutor NAB and other senior officials of the anti-graft body, The News reported.

The accountability court in Islamabad sentenced Sharif, Maryam and Safdar, to 10 years, seven years and one year in jail, respectively, on July 6 in connection with the purchase of four luxury flats in London through corrupt practices.

On Wednesday, the Islamabad High Court also dismissed the NAB's request to first announce a judgment on the maintainability of the pleas of Sharif and two others. The bench also imposed a fine on the NAB lawyers earlier for using delaying tactics.

The NAB was also pulled up by the Supreme Court on Monday when it rejected its petition challenging the Islamabad High Court's decision to hear Sharifs' petitions against the Avenfield verdict.

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar termed the NAB petition as frivolous and imposed a Rs 20,000 fine on the NAB.

Soon after his release, the three-time former prime minister Sharif said, "I have not done anything wrong; my conscience is satisfied."