A Timeline Of Events That Led To Nawaz Sharif’s Arrest In Lahore

Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif and daughter Maryam Sharif were arrested after landing in Lahore.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif with former Pak PM Nawaz Sharif

(Photo: Reuters)

Pakistan’s ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was arrested on Friday, 13 July, after being sentenced to 10 years in prison last week in one of the three corruption cases against him in the high-profile Panama Papers scandal.

Following is the chronology of the major events leading to his arrest:

• 4 April, 2016: The International Consortium of Investigative Journalism publishes the Panama Papers, exposing tax evasion by the world’s elite through off-shore accounts and shell companies. The documents include the name of the Sharif family.
• 5 April, 2016: Sharif sets up a judicial committee to investigate the allegations, denies charges.
• 26 April, 2016: Opposition parties reject the judicial commission set up by the government.
• 1 November, 2016: The Supreme Court decides to pursue a case related to Nawaz Sharif.

• 7 November, 2016: PML-N submits Qatari prince's letter to the Supreme Court containing information about the London flats that were at the centre of the Panama Papers scandal.
• 6 January, 2017: Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz submits details of assets after the Supreme Court resumes hearing.
• 20 April, 2017: The Supreme Court orders formation of a joint investigation team with a split 3-2 verdict to probe the corruption charges against Sharif.
• 5 May, 2017: SC formally constitutes the joint investigation team.
• 22 May, 2017: The joint investigation team presents its first bi-weekly report to the Supreme Court.
• 24 May, 2017: The joint investigation team sends questionnaires to Sharif and his two sons – Hussain and Hassan.
• 13 June, 2017: The joint investigation team submits report to the Supreme Court on obstructions to its work, blames government institutions for “creating impediments in the collection of evidence”.
• 15 June, 2017: Sharif appears before the joint investigation team for questioning, becoming the first sitting Pakistan prime minister to appear before any investigating agency.
• 17 June, 2017: Sharif’s younger brother and chief minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif are questioned by joint investigation team.
• 5 July, 2017: Sharif’s daughter Maryam appears before joint investigation team.
• 7 July, 2017: Former Qatari premier Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani sends a letter to the joint investigation team, asking it to record his statement at his palace before submitting its final report to the Supreme Court.
• 10 July, 2017: The joint investigation team submits final report to the Supreme Court.

• 28 July, 2017: The five-member Supreme Court bench unanimously rules against Sharif, disqualifying him from office.
• 15 August, 2017: Sharif files three separate appeals in the Supreme Court to review its verdict in the Panama Papers case that resulted in his disqualification.
• 14 September, 2017: Sharif and his children summoned by an anti-graft court to appear before it on September 19 in two more corruption cases.
• 15 September, 2017: The Supreme Court dismisses the review petitions filed by Sharif, his children and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, challenging his disqualification in the Panama Papers scandal.
• 22 September, 2017: Pakistan's anti-graft body freezes accounts and seizes properties of Sharif and his family.
• 26 September, 2017: Sharif for the first time appears before an accountability court to face the corruption charges filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau in the Panama Papers scandal.
• 3 October, 2017: Sharif re-elected as the president of Pakistan's ruling PML-N party after Parliament passed a controversial bill, paving the way for the ousted prime minister's return to politics.
• 9 October, 2017: Maryam Nawaz, Sharif's daughter, son-in-law get bail in the Panama Papers case.
• 19 October, 2017: Pakistan anti-graft court indicts Sharif, his daughter, son-in law.
• 26 October, 2017: Pakistan court issues warrant for Sharif after he fails to appear.
• 2 November, 2017: Sharif returns home from UK to face trial.
• 15 November, 2017: Pakistan anti-graft court begins trial of Sharif, his family.
• 21 February, 2018: Pakistan Supreme Court disqualifies Sharif as PML-N chief.

• 13 April, 2018: Sharif barred from contesting elections for life after the Pakistan Supreme Court verdict.
• 6 July, 2018: Sharif sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment in the Avenfield properties case.
• 10 July, 2018: Pakistan puts Sharif and daughter on exit control list.
• 12 July, 2018: Pakistan anti-corruption court dismisses Sharif's plea to transfer remaining two corruption cases.
• 12 July, 2018: Sharif and Maryam leave from London for Pakistan.
• 13 July, 2018: Sharif and Maryam arrested on their arrival in Lahore.