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Al-Azizia case: Nawaz granted exemption from personal appearance

Al-Azizia case: Nawaz granted exemption from personal appearance
April 9, 2019
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday granted a request by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif for exemption from personal appearance during hearing of his appeal against conviction in the Al-Azizia reference. Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani took up an application filed by the PML-N supreme leader seeking exemption from personal appearance. The hearing of the appeal was adjourned for two weeks. Sharif stated in his application that the Supreme Court granted him six-week bail to undergo treatment. He said he is being examined at the Sharif Medical City hospital. Earlier on Monday, Nawaz Sharif filed an application before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking exemption from personal appearance as a division bench is set to resume hearing of the appeal he filed against conviction in the Al-Azizia reference. The appeal is fixed for hearing before the division bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani for Tuesday (today). In the application, Sharif contended that the Supreme Court granted him six-week bail to undergo medical treatment and he is being examined at the Sharif Medical City hospital. Nawaz Sharif also attached a health certificate issued by Dr Amjad Iqbal stating his current health status. In his application, since Nawaz Sharif has to undergo several tests daily, therefore, he may be exempted from personally appearing during the hearing of the appeal. Accountability judge Mohammad Arshad Malik on Dec 24 last year convicted the former premier in the Al-Azizia reference and sentenced him to seven-year imprisonment. Sharif was released from Kot Lakhpat Jail last month after the Supreme Court granted him bail for six weeks to obtain medical treatment. A three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa granted the former premier bail for six weeks on medical grounds. The court ruled that Nawaz will not be allowed to leave the country for treatment and directed him to submit two bail bonds amounting to Rs10 million.