News Analysis |
The nation eagerly awaits the accountability court decision, which can have a huge impact on the dynamics of national politics. All the eyes are on Judge Muhammad Bashir-who is the only session judge in Islamabad with expertise in dealing with NAB cases.
Before passing the judgment, he will hear the plea from Nawaz to delay the announcement of judgment. According to legal experts, the court has the legal freedom to announce the verdict, despite the absence of the accused in the court.
The father-daughter duo flew to London on June 14 to visit critically ill Begum Kalsoom Nawaz. The accountability court had reserved the verdict on July 03 and ordered the accused to ensure the presence in the court.
Legal experts believe, Nawaz may face 10 years in jail and Maryam will be barred from contesting the general election, if she is convicted. Expectations are that Maryam and Safdar might face 7 and 4 years in jail.
Earlier, Maryam Nawaz had declared that she is ready to go to prison. “Since, we took a principal stand, which no one dared to take in last 70-years, therefore, what is there to worry about? One should fight until the last ball and we will,” she asserted while speaking to the media.
Initially, Nawaz refrained himself from commenting on the pending verdict in the accountability court number one. However, after the discussion with his legal team, he put forward the plea to postpone the verdict citing his unavailability at the time of the verdict due to his wife’s deteriorating health.
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‘House of Nawaz’ will be mulling over its future strategy. But, the absence of Captain (retired) Safdar contradicts Nawaz’s stance that his absence is due to unavailability. But Safdar is in Islamabad then why is he reluctant to reach the court.
Nawaz had shown fears that the decision prior to the July 25 elections may hamper PML-N’s performance in the upcoming polls. Police and Rangers have taken control of the Federal Judicial Complex. Moreover, all the roads leading to the complex have considerable police personnel and are closed for traffic.
The nation eagerly awaits the accountability court decision, which can have a huge impact on the dynamics of national politics. All the eyes are on Judge Muhammad Bashir-who is the only session judge in Islamabad with expertise in dealing with NAB cases.
Last night, the district administration has imposed Section 144 in the capital to discourage PML-N supporters from creating trouble in the capital. According to the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, accused can face maximum jail terms of 14 years and/or a fine.
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Legal experts believe, Nawaz may face 10 years in jail and Maryam will be barred from contesting the general election, if she is convicted. Expectations are that Maryam and Safdar might face 7 and 4 years in jail.
If convicted, ‘House of Nawaz’ will have to surrender first, if it goes to appeal in Islamabad High Court (IHC). It will depend on IHC to either suspend the sentence or not. It usually depends on the nature of judgment and if the legal grounds reflect that crime is of serious/heinous nature, it may uphold the verdict.