The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday directed National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Home Department Punjab to submit replies on former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's bail plea on medical grounds. A division bench of IHC, comprising Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar heard the bail plea filed by former prime minister, seeking suspension of the seven-year sentence awarded to him by an accountability court in Al-Azizia/Hill Metals Establishment case.
Khawaja Haris, the counsel for Sharif requested the bench to allow him to withdraw the other bail petition which was already fixed for February 18 for hearing along with the main appeal against the trial court verdict in Al-Azizia Steel Mills case. Haris requested the bench for early hearing of the bail plea, which he had filed on behalf of his client on medical grounds, pleading that Sharif's family members are much worried about his health condition.
He said that he wanted to withdraw the other bail plea of his client as its hearing date was too far.
However, the NAB opposed the bail plea and argued that the sentence of a convict couldn't be suspended on medical grounds. Meanwhile, Kot Lakhpat Jail's officials submitted medical reports of the former prime minister to the bench. Nawaz Sharif is reportedly suffering from disease related to heart arteries and it was necessary to maintain his blood sugar chart.
The petition was filed by Khawaja Haris under Article 199 of the Constitution of Pakistan for suspension of sentence awarded on December 24, 2018. The NAB was also directed for submission of medical reports including the latest report on facts conducted by the newly-constituted board. The hearing of the case was adjourned till February 12.