IHC dismisses Nawaz Sharif’s bail petition

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dismissed a bail petition filed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on medical grounds in Al-Azizia reference case. An IHC bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani announced the verdict. The nine-page judgment mentioned that “where a prisoner is receiving medical treatment in hospital or in jail, he would not be entitled to the concession of bail; the petitioner has been hospitalized time and again since January, 2019, whenever he made complaints about his indisposition. In fact the reports of Board of Doctors and various Teams constituted, are indicative of the fact that petitioner is receiving best possible medical treatment available to any individual in Pakistan. The referred fact cannot be regarded as an ‘extraordinary situation’ and/or case of ‘extreme hardship’. Almost, every ailment has potential of being detrimental to one’s life but not, if the same is properly treated and taken care of, therefore, being indisposed per se cannot form basis to be released on bail.” Another point of the judgment read: “Finally, we find that objection taken by learned counsel for the respondents regarding maintainability of instant petition, is of no substance. The medical condition of the petitioner deteriorated on or about 15.01.2019 and it is only there-after that instant writ petition was filed. The case law cited by learned counsel for National Accountability Bureau is not attracted in the facts and circumstances of instant case.” The judgment ended with remarks “For the above reasons, we find the instant petition to be without merit and the same is accordingly dismissed.” Earlier on February 20, the bench reserved the decision regarding the suspension of seven-year sentence awarded to Mr Sharif.