Capt Safdar reaches Rawalpindi, likely to be arrested soon

RAWALPINDI: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar, who was convicted by an accountability court in the Avenfield properties reference, showed up at a rally in Rawalpindi on Sunday.

A day after NAB officials conducted raids in Abbottabad and Mansehra districts to arrest him, he reached Rawalpindi and was seen addressing a gathering of PML-N workers.

Sources say he is likely to be arrested anytime soon as a NAB team has arrived in Rawalpindi to nab him.

On Friday, Sharif was awarded 10 years in prison, while his daughter Maryam Nawaz and her spouse Capt. Safdar were handed seven years’ and one year’s prison term, respectively.

Judge Muhammad Bashir ordered forfeiture of their properties in the Avenfield Apartments and Park Lane of London. He imposed a fine of £8 million (approximately Rs1,292m) on the former premier and £2 million (approximately Rs323m) on his daughter.

Besides, three convicts were awarded an additional one-year imprisonment, which will run concurrently for not cooperating with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

According to the verdict, the prosecution failed to establish the charge of corrupt practices against them.

Sharif’s two sons – Hussain and Hassan Nawaz – were declared fugitives and warrants for their arrest were issued for staying away from the trial proceedings.

After their conviction, Maryam and her spouse couldn’t contest the upcoming polls. Capt Safdar was to contest on a national and provincial assembly seats in Mansehra, while Maryam from a national and provincial assembly seat in Lahore.