Thursday, March 28, 2024

IHC once again dismisses Nawaz Sharif’s plea for bail on medical grounds

IHC once again dismisses Nawaz Sharif’s plea for bail on medical grounds
June 20, 2019
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday once again dismissed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's plea for bail on medical grounds in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case. Earlier, the two-member bench comprising of Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani heard the plea and reserved the verdict. Khawaja Haris, counsel for Nawaz Sharif, contended that Nawaz Sharif is suffering from a cardiac disorder, which is a threat to his life. He contended that he is also facing stress due to the environment in jail. Justice Aamer Farooq remarked that the best doctors are available in Pakistan. During the yesterday hearing, Khawaja Haris had stated that his client’s disease was diagnosed during the suspension of his sentence. A division bench comprising Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard the plea. The court remarked that there should be no delay if someone is liable to be granted bail. “Can a petition be re-filed if the bail plea is rejected?” he questioned. The counsel stated that the application can again be filed on merit on medical grounds. He said that they were seeking suspension of sentence on the basis of medical test reports. “I can again move court on the basis of cardiac ailment even though the petition is rejected for diabetics,” he contended. Khawaja Haris stated that old diseases have intensified for not being treated. “Nawaz Sharif is also suffering from the disorder of arteries. The artery supplying blood to brain is not functioning properly,” he maintained. Meanwhile, the court had summoned NAB DG Irfan Mangi was summoned for submitting the reply with a delay. He was allowed to leave court after three hours when he promised not to delay the reply. Earlier in a detailed reply submitted to the IHC in response to Sharif’s plea, the NAB stated that the plea at hand is the third one seeking relief on the grounds similar to previous ones and therefore, is not maintainable and liable to be dismissed with exemplary costs. The NAB stated that the grounds on the basis of which Sharif sought his release are “non-conclusive observations contained in a medical report of the so-called Special Medical Board and recommendation and does not manifest any serious ailment endangering the life of the petitioner and on this ground alone the petition merits dismissal.”