Verdict on Nawaz:

Fawad terms it victory of people, justice

By Our correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Thursday described the dismissal of PMLN Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif’s appeals by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against his convictions in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia references as the people’s victory and stance of PTI. In video message, shared with the media following the IHC judgement, the minister said, “From the very beginning, it was our stance that Nawaz Sharif’s family should return the money they had looted from the people of Pakistan. It is a victory of justice as Nawaz Sharif, who was declared an absconder, had yet to pay the fine imposed on him by the Accountability Court of Islamabad”.

Fawad was hopeful that justice would be ensured in case of the appeal of Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Maryam Nawaz, who was in the country and maintained the nation wanted justice done to the former rulers, who should be behind the bars.

On the cases against the Sharif family, the minister emphasised the Accountability Court had sentenced Nawaz Sharif to 10 years in prison, along with seven years and one year imprisonment to his daughter (Maryam) and son-in-law Captain (R) Muhammad Safdar respectively in the case of four Avenfield Apartment. He continued Nawaz with his two sons, namely Hassan and Hussain, were at large in the case.

Fawad said the PMLN leader was even today residing in the Avenfield Apartments, about which the nation came to know after the Panama Papers scandal had surfaced in 2016, recalling the famous statement of Maryam, in which she had said that she did not own property in London what to talk of having in Pakistan.

He also said Nawaz was disqualified by the apex court in 2017 and later the (Avenfield Apartments) case was heard by the Accountability Court for nine months and the court, eventually, sentenced him and his family members after evaluating all the relevant evidences.

The minister said the court had declared that the PMLN leader owned the properties abroad, while terming an affidavit submitted by Maryam as fake.