*ISLAMABAD: **Former PM Nawaz Sharif gets a blow from Islamabad High Court*
*Islamabad High Court bench on Friday issued a detailed verdict on apetition of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif through which he sought hisrelease on bail from Kot Lakhpat Jail where he has been serving a 7-yearterm in the Al-Azizia case.*
The two-judge bench comprising Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice MohsinAkhtar Kayani had dismissed the petition through a short order on June 20.
The judges in the seven-page verdict observed that the PML-N supremo’smedical reports provided by his counsel contain opinions of privatedoctors, the veracity of which cannot be determined.
Neither was any request made on behalf of the petitioner for constitutionof a medical board to asses his health, they added.
The judges observed: “The jail report furnished by the Superintendent, KotLakhpat Jail, Lahore, to the contrary, points out that condition of thepetitioner is stable and he is being provided his medication regularly andthere are no symptoms of any risk to his health or life.”
Read Top Stories
“Right to life is undoubtedly a fundamental right of any person, however,any person facing incarceration due to sentence recorded against him by acourt, has to undergo the same. On the balancing scale, when two factorsare put on either side, naturally the right to life weighs heavy, however,if the petitioner is being provided adequate medical treatment, thenrelease on bail is not a ground available to him.”
“As noted by this court in its earlier decision in W.P No.352-2019, thepetitioner is receiving best possible healthcare. Moreover, a reference wasalso made to the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978, whereby Jail Superintendentcan refer the matter to the Medical Board, if in his opinion, the prisonerneeds any medical treatment.”
“The petitioner never made any request to this court nor the SuperintendentJauil for referring the matter to a medical board.”
