Capt (r) Safdar granted bail, Maryam submits surety bond worth Rs5mn

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The accountability court (AC) has on Monday granted bail to Captain (r) Safdar, son-in-law of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif against surety bond of Rs5 million and ordered his release. The accountability court (AC) judge Muhammad Bashir resumed hearing of the references against former Prime Minister Nawaz and his family members. During the proceedings, Maryam Nawaz, daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and her husband Captain (r) Safdar appeared before the accountability court (AC). Captain Mohammad Safdar, who is also a member of the lower house, the National Assembly, was taken into custody at the Islamabad airport soon after his return from London with his wife Maryam Nawaz. Hundreds of ruling Pakistan Muslim League workers surrounded the vehicle in which Captain Safdar was being shifted to an investigation center. Many of them laid in front of the vehicle as police tried to hold off the protesters. During the hearing, the court ordered Maryam Nawaz to submit surety bonds worth Rs 5million after which Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Tariq Fazal Chaudhry submitted surety bonds worth 5 million Pakistani rupees on Maryam’s behalf. She was also provided a copy of the NAB reference along with relevant details. On the other hand, Khawaja Haris, the counsel of Nawaz Sharif also submitted an application seeking exemption from personal appearance for his client. The court reserved decision on the former Prime Minister’s application for exemption from appearance. The Sharifs have denied any wrongdoing and have labeled the corruption proceedings against them as politically motivated. Two of Nawaz’s sons are also due to appear before the NAB court, along with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. Nawaz was disqualified by the Supreme Court in July for not declaring a source of income that he disputes receiving. Pakistan’s top court also ordered a wide-ranging NAB investigation and trial into Sharif family members. The Supreme Court specified that the trial be concluded within six months by NAB, which has in the past been derided as toothless because rich and powerful politicians were seldom convicted.