The top court has issued notices to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam over the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) appeals against the Islamabad High Court (IHC)’s September 19 verdict suspending their conviction in the Avenfield apartments case.
The court has, however, decided not to issue notice to Sharif’s son-in-law Captain (retired) Safdar who was also sentenced to one-year imprisonment in the same case by an accountability court on July 6.
A three-judge Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, on Wednesday conducted preliminary hearing of NAB’s appeals against the IHC order that resulted in release of Sharif and his kin.
Both Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Miankhel were also part of the special bench, which rejected the NAB appeal to reopen the Hudabiya Papers Mills case against the Sharif family.
The IHC in paragraph 28 noted that “in the light of obvious glaring defects and infirmities in the judgement we have formed a prima facie, tentative opinion that the convictions and sentences handed down to the petitioners may not be ultimately sustainable.”
NAB challenges IHC ruling on Sharif family’s conviction
The NAB claimed that these observations may have caused serious prejudice to the cause and may have adverse effect while arguing the main appeal pending before the same high court. After hearing the arguments, the bench issued notice to Nawaz and Maryam but decided not to issue notice to Safdar.
The CJP asked NAB prosecutor whether he will support issuance of notice to Safdar, who was awarded one-year sentence. After consulting NAB Prosecutor General Ali Asghar, Quraishi sought one-day time. However, the CJP said the SC is not issuing notice to Safdar.
FIR lodged against Mian Mansha's son, 16 others
The Punjab Anti-Corruption Department has finally registered an FIR against Raza Mansha, son of one of the country’s biggest business tycoons Mian Mansha, for allegedly causing heavy loss to the public exchequer while setting up a cement factory.
Additional Advocate General Qasim Chohan has submitted a compliance report to the Supreme Court on behalf of the Anti Corruption Department’s inquiry team.
According to the report, the department has approved registration of a case against officials/officers and CEOs for allegedly committing illegalities and irregularities in the establishment of three cement factories. “Role of responsible officers and officials will be determined during the investigation,” it said.
Attached with compliance report is a copy of the FIR, which is registered under section 109, 409, 420, 167 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) read with section 5 (2) 47 PCA at a Lahore police station.
‘Land grabber’ Mansha ‘Bomb’ arrested from Supreme Court premises
The FIR is registered against 15 individuals also including industries department former secretary Major (retd) Fayyaz, former sec
