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Monday, October 7, 2024

Nawaz not getting off easy: Bail plea hearing adjourned

News Desk |

On Tuesday, 19th March, the bail plea of convicted former premier Nawaz Sharif was adjourned till 26th March by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, after the top court issued notices to the graft watchdog NAB.

The PMLN supremo is serving a jail term in Al-Azizia corruption reference in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail where his health condition has reportedly deteriorated. Prime Minister Imran Khan recently ordered Punjab authorities to ensure that the former premier receives the best healthcare facilities available in the country.

A tri-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and comprising Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Yahya Afridi had taken up the petition.

Nawaz’ petition seeking bail on medical grounds was dismissed by Islamabad High Court on February 25 as well as his application for suspension of his seven-year sentence in the Al-Azizia reference.

The defendant’s counsel presented all his medical reports before the bench. CJP Khosa said that the court was aware of Sharif’s medical history and it will look into the reports provided by his lawyers.

Khawaja Haris, an old-time counsel for the Sharif family, said that the medical reports of his client from July 29, 2018, have been submitted to the court. “We will have to read all the reports,” local press quoted the Chief Justice as having told the lawyer. The CJP also said that the court was also aware that Sharif had undergone treatment in London.

Nawaz’ petition seeking bail on medical grounds was dismissed by Islamabad High Court on February 25 as well as his application for suspension of his seven-year sentence in the Al-Azizia reference.

Read more: Maryam posts emotional tweets after losing legal battle to get Nawaz…

The Muslim League-Nawaz Supremo has been sentenced at Kot Lakhpat jail since December last year, in the Hill Metal case. On December 24, an accountability court in Islamabad had sentenced Nawaz to seven years in prison along with a fine of Rs1.5 billion and US$25 million in the corruption reference, after having been jailed in the first Panama reference last year and subsequently released on bail along with his daughter Maryam and son in law Safdar Awan.