ISLAMABAD: Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (retired) Safdar Awan are likely to file an appeal challenging the verdict in the Avenfield Properties corruption reference against them, according to media sources.

An accountability court last week sentenced Maryam, the daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, to eight years in prison with a £2-million fine (Rs335-million), and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar to a year in prison. Nawaz himself was sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison and slapped with a £8 million fine (Rs1.3 billion).

Nawaz and Maryam arrived in Pakistan on Friday evening, where they were arrested upon their arrival and shifted to Adiala Jail in separate convoys. Safdar was arrested earlier on July 9.

Maryam’s appeal has been drafted and her legal counsels will visit the jail shortly to get the power of attorney signed by their client, sources further said.

According to media sources, the appeal asks for the accountability court’s verdict to be declared null and void. It highlights the legal flaws in the verdict.

The appeal asks for Captain (retd) Safdar’s sentence to be suspended till a decision on the petition seeking the accountability court’s verdict to be declared void is reached, sources said.