The son-in-law of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has appeared in court after being arrested on corruption charges. Muhammad Safdar and his wife were given bail on their first court appearance. CGTN's Danial Khan has more from Islamabad.

 

DANIAL KHAN ISLAMABAD Captain Safdar, the son in law of disqualified prime minister Nawaz Sharif was arrested by a team of the national accountability bureau, as soon as he landed in Islamabad with his wife Maryam from London, yesterday. There was a bit of a scene created by the supporters of the ruling PMLN party and the NAB authorities had to seek help of the Islamabad police as the supporters lay down in front of the NAB vehicle carrying Safdar. The arrest followed issuance of non-bailable warrants by the accountability court for Safdar after he failed to appear on previous hearings. Later Maryam and her husband appeared before an accountability court in connection with a reference prepared against them by the NAB in connection to London properties owned by the Sharif family.

 

Following the hearing, the court accepted bail of both Maryam and her husband after they submitted surety bonds of 5 million rupees. But Safdar has been barred from leaving the country without the court's permission. The court has also rejected the application for Nawaz Sharif's permanent exemption from appearing at court, as he is supposedly looking after his ailing wife in London. The NAB prosecution has also asked the court to issue arrest warrants for Nawaz Sharif, who fled to London, despite being a primary accused, without informing the authorities. Meanwhile the accountability court has declared Hassan and Hussain, the sons of Nawaz Sharif as offenders for failing to appear before the court and perpetual arrest warrants have been issued for both the sons. Danial Khan, CGTN, Islamabad.