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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Who “actually” allowed Nawaz Sharif to leave for London?

Prime Minister Imran Khan says he allowed Nawaz Sharif to leave for London on health grounds on the recommendations of the medical board. The judiciary has made it clear that it is no longer ready to become a ‘scapegoat’ at any cost.

Prime Minister Imran Khan clarified that his government allowed former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to travel to London on humanitarian grounds. He was speaking to his party’s spokespersons when he made the statement. The premier also said the government allowed him to go abroad on the recommendation of the medical board.

Moreover, he noted that the Sharif family has been exposed before the nation and they even could not prove the ownership of the flat in London where Sharifs are staying.

Chief Justice of Pakistan set the record straight

It worth noting that Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Asif Saeed Khosa on Wednesday said those criticizing judiciary must use words cautiously.

Referring to the matter of allowing Nawaz Sharif to travel abroad, the Chief Justice said that Prime Minister Imran Khan himself allowed ‘someone’ to travel abroad, so it should not be said that the judiciary was the sole authority in the matter.

“We will only take decisions as per law. No one is powerful or weak for us. Don’t you remember that we convicted a former prime minister and disqualified another? Verdict in a case against a former chief of army staff is going to be announced soon. Can’t you see all these examples? No person but only law is powerful for us,” the Chief Justice said.

Federal Government allowed Nawaz, PML-N declined to accept the offer

It is important to note that the federal cabinet last Tuesday granted in-principle “conditional” approval to remove Nawaz’s name from the ECL. The government has asked the Sharif Family to pay Rs7 billion as surety bonds — equivalent to the fines imposed on him by an accountability court in two corruption cases Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Avenfield properties — in which he was convicted.

The PML-N leadership rejected the offer. While addressing a press conference after consultation meeting of senior party leaders in Lahore, Shehbaz Sharif said that the incumbent government of PTI wants to take ransom from Sharif family in the name of indemnity bond.

“And today when two high courts have granted him [Nawaz] bail and said that he can avail treatment in Pakistan or abroad. But the government is doing politics on the issue. Renowned lawyers of the country have criticized the [government] decision,” Shehbaz said.

LHC set the ‘modalities’

The Lahore High Court on Saturday (usually an off day) allowed former premier Nawaz Sharif to travel abroad for four weeks for medical treatment, saying the duration could be extended based on medical reports.

A two-judge bench, comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem, started hearing the petition at 11 am and after multiple breaks and back and forth, delivered the verdict close to 6 pm.

Read more: Nawaz Sharif Arrives in London: What Guarantees His Return To Pakistan?

In the court-approved undertaking, Nawaz assured that he would return “within four weeks” ─ a time frame that was missing in the initial handwritten undertaking.

Government followed the court’s instructions

Shahzad Akbar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Accountability, held a press conference on October 17 and explained the government’s position on the matter. He said that the government followed the court’s instructions. At the outset, Mr. Akbar said that the government has immediately acted on the ruling given by the LHC for removal of former premier Nawaz Sharif’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL) for traveling abroad for medical treatment.

He also explained the case that there were four basic points of the judicial decision. “The name of any convicted person cannot be taken out from the ECL; however only one-time permission was granted [to Nawaz Sharif] on humanitarian grounds,” he said, adding that the court has taken a written undertaking from them instead of an indemnity bond.

“The first point was only one-time permission should be granted, the second was that [Nawaz Sharif] would travel abroad for treatment, the third was that he would return back to face cases against him and the fourth was to guarantee his return [to Pakistan],” he maintained.