LHC dismisses plea challenging conviction of Nawaz, Maryam & Safdar

LAHORE (92 News) – The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday dismissed the petition challenging sentences of ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar in the Avenfield reference. A three-member full bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed announced the verdict regarding Sharif family punishment in Avenfield reference. Declaring invalid for hearing, Justice Waheed dismissed the four petitions against the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law. He remarked that the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) law is valid even after the implementation of 18th amendment. He also said that the punishment announced as per NAB law was according to the constitution. The deputy attorney general informed the court that the Supreme Court already declared the NAB law right in the Asfandyar Wali. The NAB additional prosecutor said that the parliament has approved the NAB law in 17th Amendment of the constitution. He also said that if the NAB law declares as null and void the accountability process will be stopped in the country. Earlier, the chief justice had formed a full bench to hear the plea submitted by Lawyers’ Foundation for Justice’s AK Dogar in which, it was stated that NAB’s law is no more valid after the implementation of 18th amendment. Country’s three-time prime minister was sentenced under this ‘dead law’ which is illegal, he added. The plaintiff further requested to nullify the punishment of Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Captain (r) Safdar. It is pertinent to mention here that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Captain Safdar were convicted and sentenced to prison in absentia for ten years, seven years and one year respectively, in Avenfield verdict that is likely to further disrupt an already chaotic campaign for national elections this month.