National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore has been handed over a helicopter to transport former premier Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz from Lahore to Islamabad upon their return to the country, sources told on Wednesday.
DG NAB Lahore Shahzad Saleem had written a letter to chairman NAB Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal requesting that a helicopter be provided to transfer the two high-profile figures, the sources said.
“The NAB chairman had forwarded this letter to the caretaker government who then provided the helicopter,” they added.
The letter read that a rally will be held in Lahore on the arrival of the former premier, according to sources, which may create difficulties in arresting the father-daughter duo.
The law and order situation in Lahore may also deteriorate because of the rally, it said.
Earlier, sources had said that the father-daughter duo will be arrested from Lahore airport following their arrival on July 13 and will be directly moved to Adiala Jail.
The sources said the accountability court judge would also be requested to complete the administrative procedures at the prison.
The father-daughter duo, currently in London with Nawaz's ailing wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, is scheduled to return to Pakistan on Friday, July 13.
Their names have also been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL), Interior Ministry sources informed on Tuesday.
Last week, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison and slapped a £8 million fine (Rs1.3 billion) in the Avenfield properties reference, while his daughter Maryam was sentenced to eight years with a £2 million fine (Rs335 million).
Additionally, Nawaz's son-in-law Capt (retd) Safdar has been given a one year sentence without any fine.
NAB shifted Captain (retd) Safdar Awan to Adiala Jail after he was presented in an accountability court in Islamabad on Monday.
The son-in-law of the deposed prime minister was arrested by the anti-graft body on Sunday.
