Sharifs imprisoned for clearing PTI's path to poll victory: Ahsan Iqbal

Avenfield reference filed on political victimisation, says PML-N senior leader

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Ahsan Iqbal has claimed that the Avenfield references filed against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam, son-in-law retired captain Mohammad Safdar aimed at clearing the path to a 'manufactured electoral win' for the PTI.

"It became clear to all that during the case's proceedings that the charges against Nawaz Sharif held no real weight," the former interior minister told the media outside the Islamabad High Court, according to Express News.

The IHC suspended the sentences awarded to deposed premier Nawaz, along with Maryam and Capt Safdar.



Ahsan went on to say that the references were filed on political victimisation and were a part of the "pre-poll rigging" to set aside the PML-N in the July 25th general elections.

A division bench comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb also allowed petitions filed by the Sharif family members against the accountability court’s July 6 verdict in Avenfield reference case which found them guilty of corruption and sentenced them to imprisonment and fines

“The instant writ petition is allowed and sentence awarded to the petitioners by the accountability court shall remain suspended till the final adjudication of the appeal filed by the petitioner,” reads the judgment. “The petitioner shall be released on bail subject to furnishing bail bonds in the sum of Rs500,000 with one surety in the amount to the satisfaction of deputy registrar of the high court.”

The order allows the release of the Sharif family members from Rawalipindi Adiala Jail – where they had been imprisoned since July 13.