Daily Times

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday adjourned the hearing of a bail petition filed by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference on medical grounds till Tuesday.

In this regard, the court issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Sharif’s lawyer also filed a miscellaneous plea in the court regarding withdrawal of the earlier petition in the case. The miscellaneous plea stated that Sharif has now sought a bail on the medical grounds. To which, the court remarked that it was the privilege of the applicant.

The two-member bench is expected to resume the hearing while assessing medical reports of the former prime minister.

Earlier, the court sought responses from NAB and the Punjab government regarding submission of all medical reports of Nawaz Sharif to the court.

Days after the conviction, Nawaz Sharif’s legal team had filed a general writ petition for suspension of the sentence. This was followed by an appeal challenging the verdict and another seeking suspension of the sentence on medical grounds.

From the two petitions filed by Nawaz Sharif, the court had asked his lawyer to withdraw one of the petitions as only one could be maintained for suspension of sentence and bail.

During Monday’s hearing, Nawaz Sharif’s counsel, Khawaja Haris, submitted a request for withdrawal of the general writ petition. He told the court that the ex-PM’s defence team has decided to pursue the writ petition for suspension of the Al-Azizia sentence on medical grounds.

Consequently, the IHC bench comprising Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani scheduled hearings of both the pleas on Tuesday (today) and sought NAB comments on the withdrawl of the general writ petition.

The accountability court on December 24 convicted Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference and sentenced him to seven years in prison, while acquitting him in the Flagship reference filed by NAB.

Published in Daily Times, February 12^th 2019.