ISLAMABAD: Former
prime minister Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to a total of 11 years in
prison and slapped a £8 million fine (Rs1.3 billion) in the Avenfield
properties reference on Friday while his daughter Maryam was sentenced
to eight years with a £2 million fine (Rs335 million).
The
sentences will run concurrently, which means Nawaz will serve 10 years
in prison, while Maryam seven. Additionally, Nawaz's son-in-law Capt
(retd) Safdar has been given a one year sentence without any fine.
Accountability Court-I Judge Mohammad Bashir announced the verdict today after several delays since morning.
Moreover, Nawaz's sons Hassan and Hussain who have
been absconding in the case were declared as "proclaimed offenders" and
the court ordered non-bailable perpetual warrants of arrest against
them.
The court has also ruled that the Avenfield
apartments of the Sharif family, in their possession since 1993, shall
be seized by the federal government.
"Avenfield
Apartments Nos 16, 16-a, 17 and 17-a stand forfeited to Federal
Government within the meaning of 10(a) of NAO, 1999," according to the
written verdict.
The Avenfield properties reference
was one of three filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) last
year in light of the Supreme Court's verdict against Nawaz in the Panama
Papers case. The reference pertains to the ownership of the Sharif
family's apartments at Avenfield House, London.
Moreover, after
the hearing, NAB Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi said
the accused have 10 days to file an appeal against the verdict.
In
the written order of the court, the Supreme Court's Panama Papers case
verdict and work of the joint investigation team has been referred to,
along with an interview of Nawaz's son Hussain wherein he accepted
ownership of the London properties.
Maryam, Safdar barred from elections
Following
the verdict, Maryam and Safdar stand barred from contesting the July
general election from Lahore and Mansehra, respectively.
Following
the verdict, the Election Commission of Pakistan stated that Maryam's
name will be removed from the ballot papers of the NA-127 constituency
after which new ballot papers will be printed.
'Will return after wife regains consciousness'
Nawaz Sharif has vowed to return to Pakistan after his wife regains consciousness.
"It is my wish to speak to her [Kulsoom]. I [go to the
hospital] every day with the hope that she regains consciousness and I
am able to meet here. She has been my life partner for 45 years. This
partnership is no ordinary partnership,” said the Pakistan Muslim
League-Nawaz supremo while addressing a press conference sitting
alongside his daughter Maryam Nawaz, who has been sentenced to a total
of eight years in jail.
All eyes on accountability court
All
eyes were set on the accountability court hearing the high-profile
corruption cases against the former prime minister and his family.
Strict security arrangements, including paramilitary personnel, were in
place at the Federal Judicial Complex, where the court is located. The
roads leading to the complex were also closed to traffic.
Moreover, the district administration had imposed Section 144 in the capital to discourage mass gatherings.
As
the hearing went under way today, Judge Bashir heard Sharifs' request,
submitted on Thursday, requesting the trial court to postpone the
verdict till he is back in the country next week.
After submitting
Begum Kulsoom Nawaz's medical report, Maryam's counsel Amjad Pervez
argued that the law stipulates the presence of the accused when the
verdict is read out. After the prosecution opposed any delay at such a
late stage of the trial, the judge reserved his verdict and adjourned
the hearing for an hour.
Later, the court dismissed Sharifs' plea
and set 12:30pm as the time for announcing the verdict. However, that
deadline was later extended thrice — 2:30pm, 3pm and 3:30pm — before it
was finally read out after 4pm.
The judge had called
lawyers of both sides inside his chambers and disallowed the media. He
then stated that the media will be called in when the judgment is being
read out.
Earlier, the judge, present inside his
chamber, had issued the delay notices through the court staff but the
3:30 pm deadline was informed of by the judge himself. He explained that
they have to make an appropriate number of photocopies of the judgment
for distribution to the relevant parties.
Safdar vows to stand firm
Speaking
to voters prior to the verdict, Safdar said he does not fear any
verdict against him, adding that he will be exonerated in the court of
public opinion.
On Tuesday, the court had reserved its
verdict and ordered all accused to ensure their presence in court when
the verdict is read out today.
Apart from Nawaz, Maryam and
Safdar, Nawaz's sons are also accused in the case. They were declared
proclaimed offenders last year owing to their no-show and will face a
separate trial whenever they join the proceedings.
The
accused have been charged as per the National Accountability Ordinance,
1999, according to which they face maximum jail terms of 14 years and/or
a fine, each.
The trial
After
the Supreme Court disqualified Nawaz in the Panama Papers case on July
28, 2017, the NAB, in light of the verdict, filed three corruption
references against the Sharif family in the accountability court.
The
trial against the Sharif family commenced on September 14, 2017, under
the supervision of Supreme Court Justice Ijazul Ahsan, who was appointed
a monitoring judge in the Panama case verdict.
Nawaz, Maryam entering the court premises earlier this year. Photo: File
During
the course of the trial, spread over 107 hearings, a total of 18
prosecution witnesses recorded their statements, including the Panama
case joint investigation team (JIT) head, Federal Investigation Agency's
Wajid Zia.
It was the Zia-led JIT's report which the
Supreme Court used last year as a basis for Nawaz's disqualification and
further investigation of the Sharif family's assets.
After his statement was recorded, the defence counsels cross-examined Zia for around two weeks.
The
prosecution also recorded statements of two witnesses through
video-link from London — private solicitor Akhtar Raja and forensic
expert Robert Radley — whose expertise was utilised by the JIT during
its probe.
Nawaz and Maryam outside the court premises this year. Photo: File
Nawaz
and the other accused were asked 127 questions during their
cross-examination, while no witnesses appeared in their defence.
Nawaz
and Maryam attended the majority of hearings, skipping a few as they
visited London in between to spend time with Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.
Safdar, however, attended nearly all the proceedings.
The
apex court had directed the trial court to conclude the cases in six
months. However, the court has only concluded proceedings of the
Avenfield reference despite two deadline extensions — the latest one
being July 10.
The other two corruption references — Al-Azizia
Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment and offshore companies
including Flagship Investment Limited — have yet to conclude.
England 184; Pakistan 50-1: Dom Bess added youth and Mark Wood brought pace but for all the changes, nothing has really changed on the evidence of this first day of the summer
Mark Stoneman is bowled by Mohammad Abbas Getty Images
This was meant to be a fresh start for Joe Root’s England following a winter of discontent. Instead, this was more of the same from a team whose confidence and belief still appears shattered by their chastening experiences in Australia and New Zealand.
Perhaps it was the fact Root, entering his second summer as captain, opted to bat first after winning the toss under dark skies at Lord’s. Maybe we should also give credit to Pakistan’s excellent seam attack, who utilised fine bowling conditions to the full – literally in this case as they reaped the rewards for pitching the ball up.
However, the one fact that England cannot escape is they were made to look every bit the poor side their ranking of fifth in the world suggests they are as they were bundled out for 184 on the opening day of this first Test of the summer.
Entirely in keeping with a winter that was pock-marked with feeble collapses, the hosts even included an implosion of 5-16 in 27 balls that concluded their innings early in the evening session.
This was meant to be a fresh start for Joe
Root’s England following a winter of discontent. Instead, this was more of the same from a team whose confidence and belief still appears shattered by their chastening experiences in Australia and New Zealand.
Perhaps it was the fact Root, entering his second summer as captain, opted to bat first after winning the toss under dark skies at Lord’s. Maybe we should also give credit to Pakistan’s excellent seam attack, who utilised fine bowling conditions to the full – literally in this case as they reaped the rewards for pitching the ball up.
However, the one fact that England cannot escape is they were made to look every bit the poor side their ranking of fifth in the world suggests they are as they were bundled out for 184 on the opening day of this first Test of the summer.
Entirely in keeping with a winter that was pock-marked with feeble collapses, the hosts even included an implosion of 5-16 in 27 balls that concluded their innings early in the evening session.
Stuart Broad did hit back early in Pakistan’s reply, dismissing Imam-ul-Haq lbw on review. The truth is, though, that Pakistan, 50 for one at the close, are in complete control of this Test.
With just one more game to go at Headingley next week, this young Pakistan team can dream of capturing their country’s first series win in England since 1996. They need to win here at Lord’s first but they are in a strong position to do so.
England’s plight would be even more desperate had Alastair Cook not reminded everyone of his talents, England’s all-time leading runscorer overcoming a lean winter with a composed knock of 70.
The opener came into this summer with fresh questions over his future, as he scored just 23 runs in the two most recent Tests played in New Zealand.
But on a day that saw him equal Australian great Allan Border’s record of 153 consecutive Test appearances, he showed his class.
Cook had one just one real scare, on 23 when he survived a tight Pakistan review for lbw on umpire’s call, before he was dismissed 20 minutes before the tea interval.
At that stage England were 165 for five. Without Cook, they simply surrendered in the fashion that saw them dismissed for just 58 in the Auckland Test back in March.
But rather than Trent Boult and Tim Southee, the New Zealanders who shared all ten England wickets at Eden Park, it was the inexperienced figures of Hasan Ali and Mohammad Abbas who did the damage here.
Mark Wood reacts after a dropped opportunity (Getty)
The pair had played just eight Tests between them before this. And that’s the number of wickets they shared here as they tormented England’s batsmen with an unerring line and length.
Those batting weaknesses displayed in the winter were meant to have been addressed with the changes made before this match.
Out went James Vince at No3, with Root stepping up to take on the pivotal No3 position on a long-term basis. Jonny Bairstow was moved up to five and Jos Buttler, who even the player himself admitted was a luxury pick, came in at No7 after being recalled for his first Test in 18 months.
The inclusion of Dom Bess, the 20-year-old Somerset off-spinner, also added a touch of youth to this team, while Mark Wood’s out-and-out pace was a welcome addition to the bowling attack. But for all the changes, nothing has really changed on the evidence of this first day of the summer.
Mark Stoneman, lucky to have been retained as an opener after an unconvincing winter and a summer that has not seen him reach even 30 for Surrey, started with another poor return when he was bowled by Abbas for four in the fourth over of the day.
Root’s summer also stalled early on, the captain caught behind on four chasing a wide delivery from Hasan Ali.
Dawid Malan, who proved he can play on flat pitches during an encouraging Ashes campaign in Australia, also failed as his weakness against the moving ball, exposed during his debut summer last year, was shown up when he was caught behind off Hasan.
England, 72 for three at lunch, fought back in the afternoon session as Cook reached his 56th Test half-century during a stand of 57 with Bairstow. Both went before tea, though, as Bairstow was bowled by Faheem Ashraf and Cook by Mohammad Amir, his former Essex team-mate dismissing him for the sixth time in Tests.
Ben Stokes dropped an opportunity late in the day (Getty)
Then came the collapse as Ben Stokes, well set on 38, and Buttler, looking every inch the white-ball specialist as he made 14 from 15 balls, fell within three deliveries of each other.
Stokes was unlucky to fall to a brilliant Pakistan lbw review after he was rapped on the pads by Abbas. Buttler fell victim to a good catch at second slip after he played a poor shot to Hasan.
Abbas and Hasan then mopped up the tail, Bess, Stuart Broad and Wood all falling in quick succession as England were forced to endure Groundhog Day.
