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Pakistan court orders release of Sharif, daughter, son-in-law (Night Lead)

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Islamabad, Sep 19 (IANS) The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday ordered the release of jailed former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Muhammad Safdar, providing them huge relief and prompting celebrations among supporters.

Sharif, Maryam and Safdar had been sentenced in July to 10 years, seven years and one year respectively for corruption on charges of owning four upmarket flats in London. They were convicted after they failed to prove the source of assets used to purchase the properties.

The ruling was delivered by Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb on petitions filed by the three, Geo News reported.

The court granted bail to the three and ordered them to pay Rs 500,000 as surety bonds. The sentences of the three-time Premier, his daughter and son-in-law will remain suspended till the final adjudication of the appeals filed by them.

“We accept the petitioners’ pleas seeking a suspension in their sentences,” Justice Minallah said, adding that the National Accountability Bureau, Pakistan’s anti-corruption watchdog, was unable to prove a financial link between Sharif and the apartments in question.

The verdict sparked wild celebrations among Sharifs’ supporters outside the courtroom. Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) President Shehbaz Sharif took to Twitter to express gratitude on suspension of the sentences.

“Truth has come and falsehood has departed.”

Former Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, a staunch Sharif ally, termed the judgment a “victory for justice” while congratulating the former Prime Minister, who lost his wife to cancer last week.

Calling the court’s decision “a triumph of justice”, PML-N party leader Ahsan Iqbal said: “The trial was not according to the law. It was revenge. It was pre-poll rigging to keep Sharif out of the election process.”

The July 6 verdict against Sharifs came less than three weeks before the general elections in Pakistan, which were won by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party, led by current Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Sharif was in London when the court sentenced him and he was arrested along with his daughter and son-in-law upon his return to Pakistan.

In July 2017, Pakistan’s Supreme Court had ousted Sharif as Prime Minister and barred him from public office for life after an investigation spurred by the publication of the Panama Papers found that he failed to disclose payments from a company belonging to his son in the UAE.

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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