The anti-graft court trying former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday rejected his request to travel to London to see his ailing wife, who has been in treatment there since last year. Nawaz, along with his daughter, who is also accused of corruption, had appeared before the judge and sought permission to travel abroad for a week. Sharif's political party said the court's ruling was "disappointing."
Nawaz and his family have been facing investigations and legal proceedings since July, when the Supreme Court disqualified the thrice-elected premier from office over undisclosed assets. Nawaz has denied any wrongdoing and has blamed "hidden hands" for his dismissal.
BR staff reporter adds: The Accountability Court hearing corruption cases against Sharif family members on Thursday rejected the plea of Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz seeking exemption from personal appearance in the court for one week to inquire after the health of Kulsoom Nawaz, who is undergoing treatment of cancer in London.
Sharif and Maryam Nawaz had filed their plea through their counsel Khawaja Haris, seeking a one-week exemption from March 26 on account of medical condition of Kulsoom Nawaz. A medical report of Kulsoom Nawaz was attached to the application. According to the application, Nawaz Sharif received a diagnostic treatment letter on March 21 from Dr Danial Krel regarding the present medical condition of Kulsoom and further treatment options for her.
Khawaja Haris informed the court that Dr Krel, a physician treating Kulsoom Nawaz in London, has said that she would undergo surgical resection followed by radiotherapy in neck. There was an option of PRPT for her treatment. In this regard, the doctor needs discussion with her family members.
He also read out the advice of the doctor and submitted her medical report and said Kalsoom is suffering from a life-threatening disease and the presence of her family in London is imperative and requirement of her medical team too. He prayed the court to grant exemption for one week to the applicants to visit Kulsoom in London and meet with the doctors to decide the further course of treatment. He said Ali Aimal and Jahangir Jadoon would appear on behalf of Nawaz and Maryam, respectively.
NAB Prosecutor Afzal Qureshi while opposing the request argued that the accused should not be allowed to leave the country as the trial is in its concluding stage. The NAB has also recommended that their names should be placed on exit control list (ECL) as there is a possibility that they will flee the country to avoid the process of law. The court reserved its verdict for some time. Later, while announcing its decision, the court rejected the application.
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