Islamabad High Court on Wednesday ordered the release of former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz in an ongoing corruption case. The order comes as a relief for the father-daughter duo who were sentenced to 10 and 7 years in jail after the Federal Judicial Complex of Pakistan found them guilty in the case on July 6, 2018 – charges that both have denied.
Short order: pic.twitter.com/lluvNXWxUe
— Waleed Tariq (@WaleedTariq89) September 19, 2018
This order comes only a week after Mr Sharif and his daughter were temporarily released from prison to attend funeral services for his wife, Kulsoom, who died of cancer in London.
Nawaz Sharif's release is sure to raise fresh questions over the alleged role of the ISI and the Army in the recently concluded general elections in Pakistan. Already, a number of analysts have taken to Twitter to express their views on the matter.
Lucky day for Nawaz Sharif ... and also for our Captain ...... Sarfraz Ahmad who won the toss against India but really a bad day for some people
— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) September 19, 2018
BRAVO! High Court in Pakistan frees former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter @MaryamNSharif from prison. Sentences Suspended - https://t.co/KXhXoiLnuW
— Tarek Fatah (@TarekFatah) September 19, 2018
This is called independent judiciary Islamabad High Court ordered to release Nawaz Sharif,his daughter and son in law few months back Supreme Court suspended the disqualification of Khawaja Asif
— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) September 19, 2018
Across the border: Islamabad High Court suspends the jail term of former Pak PM Nawaz Sharif. (Rare moment of judicial independence? ISI was unable to fix the bench?) Or is it because Pak deep State aim achieved of installing Imran Khan as Pak PM? Interesting developments
— GAURAV C SAWANT (@gauravcsawant) September 19, 2018
Congratulations to #NawazSharif, #MaryamNawaz & above all congratulations to NAB for its “wonderful” performance. pic.twitter.com/lxP7s65ilj
— Ameer Abbas (@ameerabbas84) September 19, 2018
So what does the suspension of the jail sentence against former #Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif mean? That the 'powers that be' only wanted him in jail to prevent him from contesting the July 25 general election and not to permanently bar him from politics? #NawazSharif
— Mehreen Zahra-Malik (@mehreenzahra) September 19, 2018
Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak arrested over corruption charge, while former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to be released from prison.
— Fuad Alakbarov (@DrAlakbarov) September 19, 2018
First election, government sealed then came the release. Nawaz Sharif continues to be the strongest politician in Pakistan. Uneasy times for Imran Khan.
— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) September 19, 2018