LHC rejects NAB’s plea for formation of another bench to hear Shehbaz’s bail appeal

The Lahore High Court (LHC) dismissed on Monday the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) plea of forming another bench to hear the bail appeal of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz's (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif.

LHC Chief Justice Sardar Mehmood Shamim Khan heard the bureau's plea. The bureau had requested the LHC to transfer Sharif's plea to an LHC bench headed by Justice Baqir Ali Najafi. During the hearing today, NAB prosecutor told the high court that a bench comprising Judge Najafi had earlier rejected Sharif's bail plea.

The court rejected NAB's plea and announced that the existing bench will hear the bail plea, local media reported. In his plea the PML-N president had argued that the Ashiana Housing Scheme case filed against him was against the law. Sharif said that he took all steps in accordance with the law and did not commit any irregularity.

Meanwhile, an accountability court is set to indict Sharif and others involved in the Ashiana case on February 18.