NAB not to challenge Maryam, Safdar's acquittal in Avenfield case
Pakistan
NAB to not challenge Maryam, Safdar's acquittal in Avenfield case
RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) - The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided not to challenge the acquittal of PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz and her husband retired Capt Safdar in the Avenfield graft case.
NAB Rawalpindi Director-General Farmanullah has approved the decision not to move court against their acquittal. A written order has also been issued by the anti-graft watchdog.
In September last, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) annulled sentences awarded by an accountability court to Maryam Nawaz and her husband in the corruption case. During the hearing, Justice Amir Farooq had remarked that an assets beyond means case could not be made against the PML-N vice president by the NAB since she was not a public office-holder. He said the NAB had failed to prove the Avenfield case against the PML-N leaders, and the court acquitted the PML-N leader and her husband of the charges.
In July 2018, the accountability court had sentenced Maryam to seven years in prison and imposed a fine of two million pounds on her. Safdar was sentenced to one year in prison. The couple was later released on bail after which they challenged their sentence in the IHC.
PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif had been sentenced to 10 years in prison in the Avenfield reference case.
