Al-Azizia case: IHC grants interim bail to Nawaz Sharif on medical grounds

• Shehbaz Sharif had approached the court for an early hearing regarding the disposition of former premier.
• Lahore High Court (LHC) had already approved the bail of Nawaz Sharif in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case.
• Hearing was conducted by a two-member bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday granted interim bail to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif bail in the Al-Aziza case on medical term till Tuesday.

The hearing was conducted by a two-member bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani. Earlier, the court had accepted the application of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif requesting for an early hearing of his plea.

Earlier, the IHC issued notices to Prime Minister Imran Khan, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and National Accountability Bureau Chairman Javed Iqbal and directed them to send a representative to court by 4pm today.

On Friday, the IHC had adjourned the hearing till Tuesday after questioning Services Hospital Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Saleem Cheema, who is part of the medical board treating Nawaz. Cheema told the IHC that if Sharif does not receive immediate treatment, his life is in danger. The judges replied that they were not medical experts and doctors are the best judges in this situation.

On Friday, the Lahore High Court (LHC) granted bail on medical terms to the former PM in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case. The court directed that Nawaz will have to submit two surety bonds worth Rs10 million each for his release in the case. The plea in the LHC too was filed by Shehbaz.