Sharif for deferring verdict in graft case
ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan awaits the ruling of an anti-corruption court on Friday that could decide the political fate of former premier Nawaz Sharif, he and his daughter Maryam Nawaz have submitted a petition asking for the verdict to be postponed and seeking a weeklong exemption from the court’s proceedings.
Sharif and his daughter are in the UK, visiting his wife Kulsoom Nawaz, who is in a coma after suffering cardiac arrest on June 15. Kulsoom was being created for cancer in London.
The PML-N leader, who was ousted from the post of premier by the Supreme Court almost a year ago, has expressed concerns that the accountability or anti-corruption court’s verdict could influence voters ahead of the July 25 general elections.
The counsel for the Sharifs, Amjad Parvez, submitted the petition in the anti-corruption court on Thursday which stated that doctors treating Kulsoom have said that her condition “is improving and that they planned to reduce her sedation on July 4 and wake her over the next 48 hours”.
It added, “Furthermore, the doctors advised that the continuous presence and support of family will help her (Kulsoom).”
In 2017, Kulsoom was diagnosed with cancer and shifted to the UK for treatment. Since then, Sharif and Maryam have made several trips to and from London to attend the court hearings and to tend to Kulsoom.
In a separate development on Thursday, Fawad Hassan Fawad, the former principal secretary to Sharif, was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau, Pakistan’s main antigraft watchdog, for alleged involvement in a Rs 14 billion housing scheme scam.
Local media reports said NAB launched an investigation into the scam in November after receiving several complaints about an illegal land deal between the state-run Punjab Land Development Company and private companies. Fawad is currently the director general of the Civil Services Academy.
Fawad is the latest former Sharif aide to run into problems with anti-corruption authorities and the court.
He appeared in court on Thursday and was directed to provide evidence to defend himself against allegations that he played a role in awarding a contract to a firm in violation of rules.