Nawaz, Maryam set to return after denial of court exemption

LONDON: Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz are set to return home to appear in an accountability court to stand trial for corruption charges after it rejected their plea for week-long exemption from personal appearance.

The former premier and his daughter have arrived at Heathrow Airport to board a flight bound for Islamabad.

In a tweet, Maryam said: “At the Heathrow, leaving for Islamabad shortly. Will arrive in the wee hours to be at the court Insha’Allah. Goodbyes are always hard.”

At the Heathrow, leaving for Islamabad shortly. Will arrive in the wee hours to be at the court Insha’Allah. Goodbyes are always hard.

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 22, 2018

On April 20, the accountability court in Islamabad rejected an application filed by Sharif and his daughter seeking exemption from personal appearance in court for seven days in the Avenfield case and granted them one-day exemption.

On April 18, the former prime minister along with his daughter left for London to see his ailing wife Begum Kulsoom who is undergoing treatment for throat cancer at a hospital.

Kulsoom was admitted to a London hospital earlier this week after her condition deteriorated.

In a tweet on his official twitter account, Maryam said: “My mother is hospitalised again. Remember her in your prayers. I know prayers can do wonders. Allah answers prayers.”