Ready to go to jail, says defiant Maryam ahead of Avenfield verdict

• Former first daughter says will pay the price for leading ‘sanctity of vote’ movement

Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, on Wednesday said that she is ready to go to jail if any unfavourable verdict is announced in the Avenfield corruption reference.

In a brief conversation with the media outside the Harley Street Clinic where her mother Kulsoom is under treatment, Maryam said there is a price to be paid for leading the movement of “sanctity of vote”, for which she is ready.

“There’s nothing to be scared of as we are leading a cause for which no one stood up in the last 70 years,” said Maryam, who is a co-accused in the reference that pertains to the upscale flats of the Sharif family in the British capital.

When asked whether she would return to the country before the elections, Maryam replied in the affirmative.

It is pertinent to mention here that the verdict in the Avenfield reference is due on Friday.

Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Captain (r) Safdar, Hussain and Hassan Nawaz have been named as accused in the reference.

The former premier, Maryam Nawaz and Captain (r) Safdar had repeatedly appeared before the accountability court, however, Hassan and Hussian had been declared absconders as they avoided appearing before the court despite repeated summons.