ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday deferred the hearing of Maryam Nawaz’s appeal against her conviction in Avenfield case on the request of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). 

A division bench of the IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani conducted hearing of the appeals filed by Maryam Nawaz and Capt (Retd) Muhammad Safdar against their conviction in corruption reference. 

During the hearing, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N)’s Vice President Maryam Nawaz and Capt (Retd) Muhammad Safdar appeared before the court along with their legal team.  Justice Kayani remarked that situation of COVID-19 outbreak was dangerous and everyone should take care of it while coming to the courts. 

NAB prosecutor Barrister Usman Cheema submitted the written comments against the plea of Maryam Nawaz. The bench asked from the defense lawyer Irfan Qadir whether he had read the answer of NAB. In his reply he said that he did not yet.  Then, the judge asked the lawyer to read the NAB comments and present his arguments. After these directions, the bench deferred the hearing on appeals till February 10 for further proceedings. 

While talking to journalists outside the IHC premises, Maryam Nawaz asserted that the end of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI)’s government is only a matter of days. She said that performance of the present government could not be termed as bad because there is nothing to judge. She added that sooner they would get rid of this incompetent government. 

In response to a question, Maryam said that Mian Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan soon but the time of his arrival will only be decided by PML-N.