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IHC adjourns Maryam Nawaz, Safdar’s appeals on NAB request

ISLAMABAD:An Islamabad High Court (IHC) bench on Tuesday put off until Jan 18 appeals of PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (retd) Mohammad Safdar against their conviction in the Avenfield Apartment reference.

Maryam along with Safdar and their son Junaid turned up before the bench comprising Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Moshin Akhtar Kayani as it resumed hearing. A National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor, Sardar Muzaffar moved an application on behalf of his fellow prosecutor Usman Ghani Cheema seeking adjournment of the case. He said Mr Cheema is unwell, due to which he could not appear in court today. The court approved the plea adjourning the hearing until Jan 18.

On July 6, 2018, Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir handed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and her husband Capt (retd) Safdar jail terms of 10, seven and one years, respectively, in the Avenfield Apartment reference.

They had moved appeals in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) assailing the conviction. The high court on Sept 18 the same year suspended their sentence and ordered their release on bail. Last week, Maryam Nawaz filed a fresh application along with new facts with the IHC seeking annulment of the Avenfield verdict.