Former PM Sharif remanded in custody

Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was on Friday remanded into the custody of the country’s anti-graft body for 14 days after he was arrested in a money laundering case, the third corruption case against him.

A National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team took Sharif, 69, into its custody from Kot Lakhpat jail Lahore where he is serving a seven-year imprisonment in the Al Azizia Mills corruption case and presented him before the judge of an accountability court for his physical remand. NAB prosecutor Hafiz Asadullah Awan sought 15-day remand of Sharif, arguing that the suspect is involved in money laundering under the garb of sale and purchase of the shares of the Chaudhry Sugar Mills.

WILLIAM, KATE TO MEET PM KHAN

The UK’s Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton, who are scheduled to reach Pakistan on October 14, will meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi the next day of their arrival, Foreign Office sources here announced.

S ARABIA RELEASES 579 PRISONERS

Saudi Arabia has released 579 Pakistani prisoners under royal clemency, a Parliamentary body here was informed. Most of the prisoners were under detention for forgery, drug trafficking, illegal border crossing, theft, picking pockets and bribery.

KHAN’S SAUDI, IRAN TRIP CONFIRMED

Khan will on Saturday embark on a trip for mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, officials disclosed. He would first travel to Iran where he will have a night stay. His meeting with President Hassan Rouhani has been scheduled for Sunday. He will later in the day go to Riyadh for meetings with the Saudi leadership.

Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, foreign office spokesman Mohammad Faisal confirmed Khan’s upcoming trip.