IHC reserves judgment on Nawaz’s bail plea in Al-Azizia Steel Mills verdict
Shares
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Wednesday reserved its judgment on Nawaz Sharif’s bail plea on medical grounds in Al-Azizia Steel Mills verdict after the two sides concluded their arguments.
During today’s hearing, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) raised objections before Islamabad High Court (IHC) on maintainability of bail plea of former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
NAB prosecutor pleaded before the bench that Nawaz’s case did not fall in circumstances of hardships. Such bail petition could not be filed when main appeals of the convict person were under process, he said.
A divisional bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Mohsin Akhter Kiyani heard the miscellaneous applications of Nawaz Sharif seeking suspension of his imprisonment sentence on medical grounds.
NAB prosecutor Jahanzeb Bharwana contended that the standard for suspension of punishment and bail was the same for all. The court had to see whether the basic rights of Nawaz Sharif were being damaged.
Jahazaib Bharwana added that cause of action arose at Lahore therefore case may be heard at Lahore. During the trial accused never submitted anything about his diseases, he said.
He said the jail official had asked to shift the prisoner to hospital through just WhatsApp.
At this, Justice Kiyani remarked it was a modern technology and could be used to convey the message in emergency. Bharwana further said that all medical facilities advised by the doctors were available in hospital where the accused was under treatment.
Justice Aamer Farooq asked which hospitals in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad have good treatment facilities for the diseases the former prime minister suffering from.
State Counsel Muhammad Jahangir stated that hospitals in Pakistan including AFIC, PIMS, PIC, CMH and Jinnah Hospital have treatment facilities of diseases diagnosed in medical analysis of prisoner.
Nawaz’s counsel Khawaja Haris said first his client was required to come out from mental stress. According to his medical history, Nawaz Sharif would be able to visit his doctors after being released from jail.
He said former prime minister had suffered from cardiac problems four times during 2003 to 2008. His client suffered with the problem of blood leakage during his treatment in 2011.
Nawaz’s health issue was as serious as no medical board or doctor was ready to take the responsibility of his treatment, he said, adding that fresh medical report had suggested angiography of his client.
Haris stated that angiography of Nawaz Sharif could be done after clearance by the doctors treating his kidney related diseases.
He pleaded that treatment of former prime minister was not possible in jail as his life was at risk due to several diseases. There was a need for regular monitoring of Nawaz’s health condition and time to time changes in medicine.
He said that there was no contradiction in medical reports of his client. He said that the report of Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) was not produced to the bench, adding that the action should be taken against the person who hided Nawaz’s report.
NAB prosecutor Sardar Muzafar said that Punjab government provided special treatment to accused in this case. Any doctor didn’t said accused life is under threat, he said and also gave reference of Sharjeel Menon case and requested the court to declare petition as non maintainable.
APP
