SC to announce verdict on Nawaz Sharif's bail plea on March 26

Announcing that it will announce verdict on March 26, the Supreme Court (SC) issued on Tuesday notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) regarding the bail plea of incarcerated Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia case.

The appeal was heard by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khosa. During the hearing today, Sharif's lawyer Khawaja Haris presented his arguments before the bench. Haris informed the bench that Sharif had also appealed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to release him on bail.

The lawyer also submitted all the medical reports of the former prime minister to the court. The bench replied that it will examine the reports. The CJP inquired the counsel whether Sharif's health had deteriorated in prison. "Everyone knows Nawaz takes medications for a number of conditions," added the chief justice.

The top court then adjourned the hearing till March 26 when it will also announce its verdict, local media reported.

On December 24, an accountability court Judge Arshad Malik handed down seven years of imprisonment as well as a fine of Rs1.5 billion and $25 million to Sharif in the Al-Azizia corruption reference. However, the accountability court acquitted Sharif in the Flagship reference.

Sharif had then filed a petition in IHC seeking his bail on medical grounds. However, the IHC upheld the accountability court's verdict and ruled that Sharif will have to serve his jail term. Following the dismissal of his petition, the former PM approached the SC and pleaded that it review the high court's order.