Apex court issue notices to Nawaz, Maryam on NAB's appeal

The Supreme Court (SC) issued on Wednesday notices to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz in a case pertaining to a petition by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) challenging the suspension of the family's prison terms in the Avenfield case.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar comprising Justice Umar Atta Bandiyal and Justice Mushir Alam took up NAB’s appeal challenging the decision of Islamabad High Court (IHC) to suspend the jail term awarded to the Sharifs.

Issuing notice to Nawaz and Maryam, Justice Nisar said that since Captain (retd) Safdar’s prison term was only one year, the bench will not issue him a notice, local media reported. The apex court then adjourned the hearing till November 6.

On Monday, NAB had filed a petition challenging IHC's decision of suspending the jail term awarded to Nawaz, Safdar an accountability court in the Avenfield reference.

In its petition, the bureau requested the top court to declare the high court's decision null and void and cancel the bail granted to all the Sharifs accused in the reference.

In July, accountability court Judge Muhammad Bashir had convicted Nawaz, Maryam and Safdar in the Avenfield reference filed by NAB. He also awarded 10 years imprisonment to Nawaz, seven years to Maryam and one year to Safdar.