Authorities bar PML-N workers from meeting Nawaz, Maryam due to govt holidays

Sharif family members granted special permission to celebrate Eid with convicts at Adiala Jail

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz workers staged a protest outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Thursday after authorities declined their request to meet deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif and daughter Maryam Nawaz - who are currently serving sentences handed down by an accountability court in Avenfield corruption reference.

According to Express News, officials cited that the visitors were barred due to government holidays. They added that the PML-N senior leaders has been informed of the development.

However, authorities had granted special permission to members of the Sharif family to meet Nawaz and Maryam on Wednesday - first day of Eid. Nawaz's mother Shameel Akhtar, his brother and PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif and nephews Hamza and Suleiman were allowed to meet Nawaz and Maryam on the occasion of Eidul Azha.



After almost 10 months of continuous trial, an accountability court found the former premier, his daughter Maryam and son in law Capt (retd) Safdar Awan guilty in one of the four corruption references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in line with the apex court’s July 28, 2017 order and awarded them ‘rigorous imprisonment’ and heavy financial penalties.

In his verdict, Judge Muhammad Bashir sentenced Nawaz, Maryam and Capt (retd) Safdar 10, 7 and one year of rigorous imprisonment.

The accused were also disqualified to contest election or to hold public office for a period of 10 years to be reckoned from the date they are released after serving the sentence and they shall not be allowed to apply for or to be granted or allowed any financial facilities in the form of a loan for a period of 10 years from the date of their conviction within the meaning of section 15 of NAO 1999.