Sharif, daughter freed on high court’S order
Ex-PM’s son-in-law also released in Avenfield case
islamabad — Pakistani authorities released former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law from jail on Wednesday after a court suspended prison sentences they got in July over the purchase of Avenfield apartments in London.
Supporters showered Sharif’s car with rose petals after he was freed from the jail in Rawalpindi.
“The prisoners have been set free,” Ishaq Cheema, an official at Adiala jail, told Reuters.
Earlier, Islamabad High Court suspended the 10-year jail term of the three-time premier.
The court also freed Sharif’s daughter and political heir Maryam, who was jailed for seven years on corruption charges relating to the family’s acquisition of the London flats.
“The prosecution has failed to show the properties belong to Nawaz Sharif”, Justice Athar Minallah told the court. The convictions are still under appeal with the same court, but the judge said they should be freed immediately while the case continues. —
islamabad — The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday ordered the release of jailed ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, suspending the sentences they received from a lower court in July and prompting celebrations among supporters waiting outside.
The Islamabad High Court suspended the 10-year sentence for Sharif and the seven-year term handed down to his daughter, Maryam, over corrupt practices linked to his family’s ownership of upscale London flats.
“Justice has been served and I congratulate Nawaz Sharif’s supporters,” former foreign minister Khawaja Asif, a staunch Sharif ally, said outside the courtroom where Sharif’s supporters were seen celebrating wildly.
Workers of Sharif ’s PML-N party started cheering as the court verdict was announced. Dozens of jubilant supporters chanted “Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif!” outside the court. The Sharifs’ convictions are still under appeal with the same Islamabad High Court, but a judge on Wednesday ruled they should be freed immediately while the case continues.
Three-time prime minister Sharif was ousted and disqualified from holding office by the Supreme Court in July 2017 and jailed earlier this year in absentia.
“The prosecution has failed to show the properties belong to Nawaz Sharif. It also failed to prove how was Maryam Nawaz sentenced under the same chargesheet which convicted Nawaz Sharif,” Justice Athar Minallah told the court.
The court judgement may revive Sharif’s political career after his party was ousted from power in July’s national election.
“Today’s verdict shows that Sharif was politically victimised,” Ahsan Iqbal, a senior member of Sharif ’s party, told reporters in Islamabad amid celebrations by members of the former ruling party. “This was only done because of election rigging.”
The suspension of his sentence will stir up Pakistan’s political environment as Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI faces the daunting task of fixing economic challenges, including the widening of twin current-account and budget deficits and rapidly dwindling foreign reserves.
“Sharif’s release will reinvigorate the opposition,” said Uzair Younus, a South Asia director at Washington-based consultancy Albright Stonebridge Group LLC.
“The party workers will be energized and can use his release to fight a moral case in the public domain against a PTI government that is still learning how to rule.”
It will also likely add to calls for Khan to investigate charges of poll rigging after widespread allegations of military-led interference. Khan had pledged to probe complaints, but so far little has been done.
Sharif ’s release may also be seen as part of a wider civil-military conspiracy. Some may see this as an attempt by the army to keep Khan’s administration on its toes. The forces have ruled Pakistan for much of its 71-year history and continues to flex its muscles over many policy decisions.
The army is “stage managing” the political scene, said Burzine Waghmar, a member of the Centre for the Study of Pakistan at SOAS University of London. They want Sharif to play a role of a “seasoned politician who is happy to play his two-bit role as a constructive opposition as Khan’s administration get its feet wet.”
Today the court has suspended the decision that was based on revenge. The verdict shows that Sharif was politically victimised
Ahsan Iqbal, PML-N leader
The truth has prevailed. Justice has been served (with the IHC judgement) and I congratulate Nawaz Sharif’s supporters
Khawaja Asif, PML-N leader
Supporters of Nawaz Sharif should not celebrate so much as they (the Sharifs’ family) will likely have to go again to Adiala prison
Javed Faisal, Aide of Imran Khan
The Sharif family still has not proven where the billions of rupees came from for their property in London’s posh area
Fawad Chaudhry, Minister
The party workers will be energised and can use his release to fight a moral case in the public domain against the PTI government
Uzair Younus, An analyst