Sharif held in graft case after return to Pakistan
Daughter Maryam also arrested on arrival after conviction in corruption case
Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam were arrested on Friday night upon their return to the country after their conviction in one of the three corruption cases against the powerful political family, less than two weeks before the country goes to the polls. According to an airport official, they surrendered before a team of the country's anti-graft body The National Accountability Bureau without resistance.
Pakistan’s former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam were arrested Friday night upon their return to the country after their conviction in one of the three corruption cases against the powerful political family, less than two weeks before the country goes to polls.
The plane carrying Sharif, the supremo of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz, and Maryam landed at Lahore's Allama Iqbal Airport at 9.15 pm (IST), nearly three hours late from the scheduled arrival.
The Etihad Airways flight EY243 arrived here from Abu Dhabi. Earlier they flew to the UAE capital from London, where Sharif’s wife Kulsoom, suffering from throat cancer, is battling for her life. According to an airport official, they surrendered before a team of the country’s anti-graft body — The National Accountability Bureau — without any resistance.
Sharif reportedly refused to sit in the vehicle of the Rangers to get to the airport terminal. Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials took their passport for immigration.
According to media reports, dozens of security officials entered the plane after it landed and asked other passengers to leave. The duo’s passports were seized by a three—member FIA team, and both were permitted to meet Begum Shamim Akhtar, Sharif’s mother, in the Haj Lounge.