Nawaz Sharif: Pakistan court orders ex-PM's release

A Pakistani court has ordered the release of ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, two months after he began a 10-year jail sentence over corruption.

The court suspended the sentences of Mr Sharif and his daughter Maryam who were convicted in July, shortly before the country held general elections.

The decision came during their appeal. They have denied wrongdoing.

The ruling comes just a week after Mr Sharif's wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, died from cancer in London.

They were briefly allowed out of prison to attend her funeral, but were later returned. They are expected to be released later on Wednesday on bail.

What was the case about?

Mr Sharif was charged with corrupt practices in July related to ownership of four luxury properties in central London linked to his family.

He says the charges are political motivated.

His daughter, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, received seven years for abetting a crime and one year for not co-operating - which were due to run concurrently - while son-in-law Safdar Awan was given a one-year sentence for not co-operating.

All three had their jail sentences suspended by Islamabad's high court on Wednesday, after their appeals hearing was heard.

The case against Nawaz Sharif has divided opinion in Pakistan, the BBC's Secunder Kermani says.

His supporters believe the real reason he was convicted was because he had fallen out with the country's powerful army, but his political rivals - including new PM Imran Khan - had hailed his conviction as a victory for accountability, he adds.

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