A Pakistani court has postponed the indictment of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for seven days after his children, who are co-defendants in the case, did not appear in court.
The court in Islamabad on October 2 set an October 9 date for the indictments against Sharif, his two sons, and a daughter and son-in-law.
Attorney Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha, who is also a lawmaker from Sharif's party, said that Sharif's children are in London with their mother who is undergoing throat cancer treatment. Sharif was present in the court.
The Sharifs face indictment in a corruption case ordered by the Supreme Court following an investigation into documents that were leaked from a Panama law firm and indicated Sharif and the others had undisclosed assets.
The Supreme Court disqualified Sharif in July, forcing him to step down. Sharif has denied any wrongdoing.
During his first appearance in court, on September 26, Sharif condemned the anticorruption court's actions as politically motivated.
The allegations against the three-time former prime minister and three of his children date back to one of his previous stints in power, in the 1990s.
His political adversaries accused Sharif and his family of laundering money from Pakistan and using the wealth to buy properties in London.
Known as a strong supporter of civilian rule, Sharif has a difficult relationship with the military, and his supporters and some political commentators suggest the powerful military was behind his ouster.
His family says the London properties were acquired as a settlement for investments they made with Qatar’s royal family in the 1980s.
With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP
