Rejection of bail plea: Nawaz moves SC against IHC decision

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Friday requested the Supreme Court to set aside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) judgment rejecting his bail plea in Al-Azizia corruption reference.

Nawaz filed an application with the apex court through his counsel Khawaja Haris under Article 185(3) of the Constitution for leave to appeal against the IHC’s February 25 judgment in the reference.

An Islamabad High Court bench, comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, had dismissed Nawaz’s petition seeking bail and suspension of his seven-year sentence on medical grounds.

The Accountability Court-II sentenced Nawaz to seven years in prison and Rs1.5 billion and US$25 million fine in the corruption reference on December 24, 2018.

He made the NAB chairman, Judge Accountability Court-II Arshad Malik as well as the Kot Lakhpat Jail, Lahore superintendent as respondents.

Nawaz prayed the apex court to set aside the IHC judgment of February 25, 2019 with further prayer that execution of the sentence passed by the Accountability Court-II in Al-Azizia corruption reference may kindly be suspended and he may be released on bail during the pendency of his criminal appeal pending with the Islamabad High Court.

He contended that the impugned judgment was in total violation of his fundamental right to life as guaranteed by Article 9 of the Constitution.

“Notwithstanding his conviction and his consequent imprisonment in jail, I retain the right to have my medical treatment conducted by the practitioner of my own choice,” Nawaz contended.

He questioned whether the diagnosis recorded in each of the reports was submitted by the Special Medical Boards of various hospitals that he was suffering from Recurrent Angina, Ischemic Heart Disease, Coronary Artery disease, Diabetes, Hypertension with unanimous recommendations that he require 24-hour round the clock monitoring for managing his ailments.