Maryam to return Pakistan for October 9 hearing

Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz and her husband are likely to return to Pakistan next week to appear before an accountability court in connection with a reference related to the London properties owned by the Sharif family.

Maryam's brothers - Hasan and Hussain - would remain in the British capital and wait for the outcome of the upcoming hearing of the accountability court, Islamabad, where their sister might appear on October 9 (Monday), the Dawn quoted a source close to Sharif's family, as saying.

Maryam is currently in London and is looking after her mother Kulsoom Nawaz, who has been receiving treatment for cancer.

On October 2, Sharif's indictment on charges of corruption was deferred by a NAB court till October 9.

The accountability court, which was hearing three corruption references against former Sharif and his family, also issued non-bailable arrest warrants against his children and son-in-law.

Sharif, his children - Hussain, Hassan, and Maryam - and her husband Captain Safdar are expected to appear in court on October 9 and be indicted in the corruption cases.

On October 3, Sharif was re-elected as president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Tuesday.

PML-N leader Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry submitted Sharif's papers for the party president in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) while no one other candidate from the party contested the election, the Dawn reported.

The development came after Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain ratified the Elections Bill 2017 which paved the way for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to become the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president.

The Election Bill 2017, commonly known as the Electoral Reforms Bill, which was already been approved by the Senate, was subsequently signed into law by President Mamnoon Hussain late Monday night.

A controversial clause in the bill allows disqualified politicians to hold a public office or to lead a political party.

The opposition members in the National Assembly protested the passing of the bill and tore copies of it after it was presented by Law Minister Zahid Hamid.

-ANI