ISLAMABAD – Jailed former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, hisdaughter and son-in-law are set to approach the court on Monday againsttheir conviction in a corruption case.
Sharif, 68, and his daughter Maryam, 44, were arrested in Lahore on Fridayon their arrival from London after an accountability court found themguilty on July 6 over his family’s ownership of four luxury flats in London.
The appeals against the conviction of Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and retiredCaptain M Safdar are likely to be filed before the Islamabad High Court(IHC) on Monday.
Lawyers for Sharif met him in the high-security Adiala jail and obtainedhis signatures on the papers of attorney, the paper quoted sources privy tothe legal team of the three-time prime minister as saying.
The legal team will not only challenge the accountability court’s verdictagainst the Sharifs, but they are also planning to file two more appealsagainst the law ministry’s notification for jail trial and for transfer oftwo more pending corruption cases Al-Azizia and Flagship beforeaccountability court Judge Mohammad Bashir.
In the July 6 judgement, Judge Bashir acquitted Sharif of the charge ofcorrupt practice, but convicted him, his daughter Maryam and son-in-lawSafdar for owning assets beyond means and awarded 10 years jail to Sharif,seven years to Maryam and one year to her husband Safdar.
Leading advocate Khawaja Haris would lead the legal team of Sharif, thereport said.
Three miscellaneous applications would also be filed for suspension ofverdict of Judge Bashir before the IHC Court on Monday, it said.
Sharif’s legal team will also file the appeal against dismissal of anapplication by Judge Bashir of the accountability court, seeking transferof Al-Azizia and Flagship cases to another judge.
A separate petition against the notification issued by the caretakergovernment for conducting the trial of Sharif in Adiala jail will also landin the IHC next week, the report said.
Meanwhile, the subcommittee of the caretaker federal Cabinet on Saturdayrecommended placing the names of Sharif and Maryam on the Exit Control List(ECL).
A senior official said their names had been recommended to be added to theECL on the request of the National Accountability Bureau. Persons placed onthe ECL are barred from leaving the country.
Sharif’s wife Kulsoom is on ventilator at a hospital in London. She hasbeen undergoing treatment for throat cancer.