Former Pakistani PM handed seven years, arrested from courtroom and taken to Adiala jail
According to details, former prime minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif was arrested from the courtroom after he was found guilty in the Al-Azizia corruption reference and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
The court also fined Nawaz Rs1.5 billion and 2.5 million pounds, NAB Special prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi said.
The reference pertains to the Sharifs being unable to justify the source of the funds provided to set up Al-Azizia and Hill Metal Establishment in Saudi Arabia, making this a case of owning assets beyond means.
The former premier, however, was acquitted in the Flagship Investments reference. Accountability Judge Arshad Malik while reading out the short order said there was no case against Nawaz in the Flagship reference.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) announced that it would appeal against the verdict.
Following the judgement, Nawaz was taken into custody from the courtroom. His lawyer Khawaja Haris requested the judge that the PML-N quaid be shifted to Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Central Jail instead of Adiala jail. The court, after reserving its verdict on the request, agreed but said he would be sent to Adiala today and to Kot Lakhpat tomorrow (Tuesday).
The short order said that the burden of proof lies on Nawaz in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case.
The detailed judgement of the cases is yet to be released.
The two references concern the setting up of the Al-Azizia and Hill Metal Establishment in Saudi Arabia, and Flagship Investment in the United Kingdom.
The accountability court charged Nawaz in both references under Section 9(a)(v) of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.