Trial of remaining graft cases against Sharifs to be held in Adiala Jail

Trial of remaining graft cases against Sharifs to be held in Adiala Jail

Islamabad (Staff Report): The trial of Sharif family in two remaining corruption references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will be held in Adiala jail.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (b) of section 16 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 (XVIII of 1999), the federal government is please to specify the Central Jail Adiala, Rawalpindi, to be the place where the Accountability Court-I, Islamabad shall sit for trial of References No. 18/2017 and 19/2017 against Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and others,” according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice.

The anti-graft watchdog had filed three references against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif his children – Hassan, Hussain and Maryam Nawaz – and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar. The cases pertain to Avenfield flats, Al-Azizia Stell Mills and Hill Metal Establishment, and offshore companies.

On Friday, the NAB arrested Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz at Lahore Air Port following their conviction in Avenfield case and shifted them to Adiala jail.

According to sources, the plan regarding Nawaz and Maryam’s stay at jail was amended thrice after which it was decided to allot the former premier a ‘B’ class jail which has facilities such as a 21-inch television, newspapers, a bed and fan.

Maryam is being kept at the women’s cell in Adiala Jail, the sources said.

An accountability court last week sentenced Maryam, the daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, to eight years in prison with a £2-million fine (Rs335-million), and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar to a year in prison.

Nawaz was sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison and slapped with a £8 million fine (Rs1.3 billion).