Daily Times

Deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday filed a bail application in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking a bail on medical grounds.

Sharif’s counsel, Khawaja Harris, requested the court to grant a bail to the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo on humanitarian grounds and for necessary medical check-ups.

Sharif was unable to undergo proper medical examination due to his imprisonment, read the petition.

The registrar office of the IHC received the application. On Jan 22, Sharif was brought to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) from Kot Lakhpat jail for a medical examination amid tight security. A three-member medical board comprising doctors from the PIC examined the health of the PML-N leader. Upon completion of the medical checkup, he was shifted back to the prison where he is serving seven-year term awarded to him in the Al-Azizia corruption reference by an accountability court.

Meanwhile, a two-member bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s plea seeking suspension of his sentence on the Al-Azizia reference on medical grounds on Monday (Jan28).

The bench includes Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar. The plea was filed by the ex-premier’s counsel, Khawaja Harris, in the IHC. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), accountability court and superintendent of Kot Lakhpat jail have been made respondents. In the plea, the former premier requested that the accountability court verdict sentencing him be suspended till a decision is announced on his appeal against the jail term. The sentence in Al-Azizia reference should be suspended and he should be granted bail on medical grounds against surety bond, the petition read. Along with the petition, a medical report from the hospital dated January 17 has been attached.

A few days earlier, a team of doctors had conducted a medical examination of Nawaz at the Kot Lakhpat jail.

Blood samples of the former premier were sent to Jinnah Hospital and he had been taken to Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) for further tests.

Nawaz had earlier also moved the IHC seeking a suspension in the seven-year jail term handed to him in the Al-Azizia reference. His plea has been fixed for hearing on February 18.

Published in Daily Times, January 27^th 2019.