Nawaz-Maryam arrested at Lahore airport

International Desk: Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam was arrested on Friday soon after after their arrival in Islamabad from London. They have been convicted in a corruption case described by Pakistan's embattled former prime minister as a "blind revenge" amid a crackdown on his party activists.

Earlier in the day, Sharif, 68, the supremo of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz, and Maryam stopped over in Abu Dhabi on their way to Pakistan from London. Security has been tightened and all roads leading to Punjab's capital city have been blocked to prevent PML-N supporters to reach there.They will be arrested on their arrival at Lahore airport from where they will be taken to Islamabad by helicopter so that they can be sent to Adiala jail for imprisonment.

Both Nawaz and daughter Maryam were in London visiting Sharif's ailing wife when a Pakistani court convicted them of corruption and sent them to prison. Sharif's son-in-law is currently serving his one-year prison sentence on the same charge, which stems from the purchase of luxury apartments in Britain that the court said were bought with illegally gotten money.

Sharif is expected to appeal his conviction and seek bail. Ahead of his return, police swept through Lahore, arresting scores of Sharif's PML-N workers to prevent them from greeting him at the airport. In a video message reportedly from aboard his aircraft en route to Pakistan, Sharif said he was returning knowing he would be taken directly to prison.

Source: Agencies
 

risingbd/Dhaka/July 13, 2018/A K Azad