Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): National Accountability Bureau on Tuesday submitted reply in Islamabad High Court regarding former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's bail petition in Al-Azizya Steel Mills reference case.
In its reply, the anti-graft body said Nawaz Sharif is not entitled to get bail on medical grounds as the former premier is being provided best medical treatment. Therefore, his bail plea should be rejected.
Last month, the court summoned all medical reports of ousted prime minister.
The two-member bench, comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard Nawaz’s plea seeking to suspend his sentence in the Al-Azizia reference on medical grounds.
The court issued notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Superintendent of Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail, adjourning the hearing of the case till February 6.
The former premier in his plea, requested that the court to suspend the sentence awarded to him by the accountability court verdict till a decision is announced on his appeal against the jail term.
The petition read that the sentence in Al-Azizia reference should be suspended and he should be granted bail on medical grounds against surety bond.
A medical report of the former PM dated January 17 has also been submitted along with the petition.
Former PM Nawaz Sharif underwent a medical examination at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) on January 22.
According to medical sources, three tests namely ECG, echocardiogram and Thallium of the former premier were conducted. “The echocardiogram report showed that Nawaz’s heart is larger than normal,” they said.
The former PM had earlier also moved the IHC seeking a suspension in the seven-year jail term handed to him in the Al-Azizia reference. His petition has been fixed for hearing on February 18.
On Dec 24, 2018, the Accountability Court 2 of Islamabad had handed a seven-year rigorous imprisonment to Nawaz Sharif along with a fine of Rs1.5 billion and $25 million in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills/Hill Metal Establishment reference. It had, however, acquitted him in the Flagship Investment reference.
