National Accountability Bureau had already apprised the Secretary National Assembly of their plan for the arrest. Former information minister Pervaiz Rashid, Asif Kirmani, Maryam Aurangzeb and supporters of the PML-N had reached Islamabad Airport to receive them.
Many supporters of the PML-N lied in front of the vehicle carrying Captain Mohammad Safdar (retd) in a bid to stop the NAB team from arresting him. Asif Kirmani told the PML-N supporters that the party leadership had ordered to allow the NAB team to take Safdar with them therefore they should not stop the vehicle. Safdar also requested the protesters not to impede the NAB team. But, activists continued to raise slogans and the lying workers refused to leave the scene. Maiza Hameed and Marvi Memon of the PML-N were also making victory signs along with the sloganeering activists who were also taking selfies by their smart phones.
Islamabad Police and Punjab police personnel were also present on the spot but they witnessed the entire scene silently and took no action to disperse the protesters. However, NAB team finally left the airport taking away Safdar with them in their vehicle. The couple was also summoned by the Accountability Court for appearance today (Monday) in the graft case against the members of Sharif family including Nawaz Sharif, his two sons Hassan and Hussain, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and her husband Capt Safdar (retd). Non-bailable warrant was issued against Safdar.
INP adds: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain Safdar ((retd) will reach Islamabad from London on Monday morning. The couple has been summoned by the Accountability Court for appearance today (Monday) in the graft case against the members of Sharif family including Nawaz Sharif, his two sons Hassan and Hussain, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and her husband Capt Safdar (retd).
Speaking to journalists before leaving for Pakistan from London's Heathrow Airport on Sunday, Maryam said that she and her family respect the constitution and the law. Thus she and her husband are returning to the country to appear before the court. She said her family would test the judicial system by appearing before courts despite all the reservations.
Hasan, Hussain and Maryam Nawaz are in London because their mother, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, is undergoing treatment for lymphoma. Safdar was also in London. On corruption cases, Maryam Nawaz said, the whole world knows 'this is revenge.' She said it was PML-N' democratic right to elect Nawaz Sharif its president and no one should object to it. She said everyone is aware of the things going on in Pakistan for more than one and a half years. She said the democratically elected PML-N government would complete its tenure despite all the hurdles. To a question, Maryam said her brothers Hassan and Hussain would appear before the court but it was up to them to decide about their return to Pakistan.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017