NAB not to challenge Maryam, Safdar’s acquittal

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided not to challenge the acquittal of PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz and her spouse Capt (retd) Mohammad Safdar in the Avenfield reference.

NAB Rawalpindi Director General Farmanullah approved the decision of not filing appeals against both the PML-N leaders while the prosecution branch was also informed about it.

The anti-graft buster issued a written order in this regard.

The anti-corruption watchdog said that the order of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) would not be challenged in the Supreme Court.

In September, the IHC had set aside the conviction of both the PML-N leaders handed down by an accountability court in the Avenfield reference four years ago and acquitted the couple.

In July 2018, the accountability court had sentenced Maryam to seven years in prison and imposed a fine of two million pounds on her for being “instrumental in concealment of the properties of her father”.

Safdar was sentenced to one year in prison. The couple was later released on bail, after which their appeals were pending.