IHC rejects Nawaz Sharif's bail plea on medical grounds

The verdict was announced by Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhter Kyani.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Islamabad High Court has rejected plea submitted by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif seeking bail on medical grounds in Al-Azizia reference.

It was requested in the petition to suspend his sentence and grant bail to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo on medical grounds.

The verdict was announced by Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhter Kyani after the lawyer of Nawaz and NAB prosecutor completed their arguments.

In its verdict, the high court announced that Nawaz Sharif cannot be granted bail on medical grounds. 

It is pertinent to mention here that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had appealed court not to release the accused on bail.

Earlier, incarcerated former premier Nawaz Sharif’s counsel Khawaja Haris told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that his client may suffer heart attack anytime, and 24-hour monitoring of his heart is required.

Contrarily, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi had submitted its response over the matter, following the court’s directives, and termed the bail plea “impermissible” for hearing, and subsequently requested the court to dismiss the application.

 On June 17, the superintendent of the Kot Lakhpat Jail and a medical officer had submitted their reply in the IHC over health status of Nawaz Sharif.

The court was informed that Nawaz Sharif has been suffering from diabetes, blood pressure and health related diseases. It was further stated that the former prime minister had a heart bypass surgery in the years between 2011 and 2016, and stents were placed in his heart in the years 2001 and 2017.

Moreover, the court was also informed that Nawaz’s health condition was better under the current medical treatment offered to him. It added that when he was asked to undergo an ECG medical test, he refused it.

Besides, his blood pressure and sugar reports were also attached withthe overall health status report, including a list of medicines which his doctors have recommended him.

Importantly, the jail superintendent has also pleaded with the court to dispose of Nawaz’s bail application.

On June 11, the IHC had adjourned hearing on the petition, and deferred it till June 19, while a notice was issued to director general of the NAB Rawalpindi to submit their response over the matter.

The former premier, who has been serving a seven-year prison term at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail since December 24, 2018, was granted a six-week bail on March 26 to get medical treatment.