Islamabad (Staff Report): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s petition seeking suspension of his sentence in the Al-Azizia reference on medical grounds on January 28.
According to details, two-member bench of the IHC comprising Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar will hear the petition filed by the former PM.
Nawaz Sharif's counsel Khawaja Harris filed the plea in the IHC. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), accountability court and superintendent of Kot Lakhpat jail have been made respondents.
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.
