He is accused of possessing assets beyond his known sources of income, and was arrested after the ruling was announced.
ISLAMABAD — An anti-graft tribunal sentenced former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to seven years in prison for corruption on Monday, drawing criticism from his party, which said the decision was a «black stain» on the justice system.
The verdict came after Sharif was removed from power last year over corruption allegations. Sharif, who was serving his third stint as prime minister, has denied any wrongdoing.
He is accused of possessing assets beyond his known sources of income, and was arrested after the ruling was announced.
He can appeal the verdict, under which he was also fined $25 million for not disclosing how his family set up the Al-Azizia Steel Mills when he was exiled to Saudi Arabia by Pervez Musharraf, a former dictator who toppled Sharif’s government in 1999.
The same court acquitted Sharif in a second case relating to his family’s business in Britain.
According to Pakistan’s anti-graft body, it will challenge the acquittal of Sharif, who was sent to jail a day before his birthday.
