Former PM Nawaz Sharif surrenders to IHC, protective bail extended until Oct 26

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday extended the protective bail off former prime minister Nawaz Sharif who surrendered to court until October 26.

The two-member bench issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and sought a reply in this regard. The NAB prosecutor told court they the accountability watchdog had no objection to the extension in the protective bail of Nawaz Sharif.

Justice Gull Hassan Aurangzeb questioned whether they should release Nawaz Sharif despite he faces the charges of corruption and corrupt practices. "We again want to ask that whether the NAB wants to arrest Nawaz Sharif or not," he queried.

The court ordered the NAB to clarify its position on the next date. Former PM Nawaz Sharif, in the petitions, appealed to the IHC to restore his appeals in teh Avenfield Property and Al-Azizia Steel Mills references.

Meanwhile, Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir granted bail to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif after he surrendered to court in the Toshakhana case.

The court cancelled his perpetual arrest warrants and abolished the status of an absconder. The judge allowed Nawaz Sharif to leave court after he marked his attendance.  

PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif, Ishaq Dar and other party leaders were also present. A lot of PML-N workers were also present outside court. The courtroom burst into laughter when the judge remarked that the presence of a large number of people gave pleasure.

Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif's counsel has filed three new applications, seeking release of the attached property, appointing a pleader and submitting the surety bonds.