The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday ordered the release of jailed former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Muhammad Safdar, providing them huge relief and prompting celebrations among supporters.
Sharif, Maryam and Safdar had been sentenced in July to 10 years, seven years and one year respectively for corruption on charges of owning four upmarket flats in London. They were convicted after they failed to prove the source of assets used to purchase the properties.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb on petitions filed by the three, Geo News reported.
The court granted bail to the three and ordered them to pay Rs 500,000 as surety bonds. The sentences of the three-time Premier, his daughter and son-in-law will remain suspended till the final adjudication of the appeals filed by them.
"We accept the petitioners' pleas seeking a suspension in their sentences," Justice Minallah said, adding that the National Accountability Bureau, Pakistan's anti-corruption watchdog, was unable to prove a financial link between Sharif and the apartments in question.
The verdict sparked wild celebrations among Sharifs' supporters outside the courtroom. Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) President Shehbaz Sharif took to Twitter to express gratitude on suspension of the sentences.
"Truth has come and falsehood has departed."
Former Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, a staunch Sharif ally, termed the judgment a "victory for justice" while congratulating the former Prime Minister, who lost his wife to cancer last week.
Calling the court's decision "a triumph of justice", PML-N party leader Ahsan Iqbal said: "The trial was not according to the law. It was revenge. It was pre-poll rigging to keep Sharif out of the election process."
The July 6 verdict against Sharifs came less than three weeks before the general elections in Pakistan, which were won by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party, led by current Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Sharif was in London when the court sentenced him and he was arrested along with his daughter and son-in-law upon his return to Pakistan.
In July 2017, Pakistan's Supreme Court had ousted Sharif as Prime Minister and barred him from public office for life after an investigation spurred by the publication of the Panama Papers found that he failed to disclose payments from a company belonging to his son in the UAE.
While supporters of Sharif broke out in exuberant celebrations, reaction online was quite different.
#NawazSharif and Maryam Nawaz are set to be released from prison.
— Kiya Parmar (@kiyapag) September 19, 2018
Isn't this an another example of scam in the country? I must say that Pakistan has become a mere joke among the world because of these Sharif dramas.
Our Judicial system is a joke. Where rapists of kids roam free who belong to lower class & can't even pay bail money, how can you expect the multi billionaire looters to stay inside. A dark day.#NawazSharif
— Khadija Abbas (@TheKhadijaAbbas) September 19, 2018
So what does the suspension of the jail sentence against former #Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif mean? That the 'powers that be' only wanted him in jail to prevent him from contesting the July 25 general election and not to permanently bar him from politics? #NawazSharif
— Mehreen Zahra-Malik (@mehreenzahra) September 19, 2018
Seriously !
— Mah Noor (@_Mah_noor_) September 19, 2018
If this convicted criminal can get a bail out. I tell you let all the prisoners be free from jails.
End up the concept of right and wrong Please DO! #MaryamNawaz #NawazSharif
WTF!! What kind of stupid laws has this country? #NawazSharif & #MaryamNawaz released after all those solid evidences against https://t.co/QewJ8gmn52 law in this country.Time to leave it.What a major disappointment.#Zardari don't worry,U r safe & so are all the "BIG'' criminals.
— Sandman (@FearlessX222) September 19, 2018
Finally when everyone is hoping "ab sb kuch badal jiya ga because mulk ki judiciary ab bht strong hogai hai" then suddenly corruption god father release with respect 😏😏😏😏 pakistan kabii nai badal sakta sorry imran khan 😭😭😭😭 #NawazSharif
— Sardar Hamza (@SardarH06369198) September 19, 2018
@ImranKhanPTI
— Kinza_khan (@Kinzakh64974374) September 19, 2018
Is this naya Pakistan? Where corrupt leaders and looters of country are set free? It has caused a huge disappointment.
Please it's a request to take some immediate action. #NawazSharif
#NawazSharif
— سائینس دار (@TimeSpaceMe) September 19, 2018
A Black day for Pakistan.
Judge intentionally overlooked the evidence and gave relief to the criminals on petty legal lacuna.
