Important judicial week for PML-N, PPP leaders begins

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: An important judicial week has started for Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Hamza Shahbaz and Asif Ali Zardari, as they would be facing courts in different cases.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s bail plea in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case on medical grounds on April 9. Apart from the bail petition, the court will also hold a hearing on the National Accountability Bureau’s appeal against the acquittal of Nawaz Sharif in the Flagship Investments corruption reference for lack of evidence.

A two-member bench of the IHC, comprising Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar, will hear the case. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will on April 9 hear an appeal of the NAB chairman against the bail granted by the high court to PML-N President and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif and former principal secretary to the prime minister Fawad Hassan Fawad.

Similarly, a division bench of the Islamabad High Court, comprising Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, will on April 10 hear former president and PPPP President Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur’s plea for bail in the fake accounts case.

In the last hearing on March 28, the bench had accepted the interim bail of

two leaders on sureties of Rs10 million each and directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to provide the relevant record to the court.

Their lawyer Niaz H Naik had requested the bench to direct the NAB not to arrest the two leaders and accept their bail until completion of the trial. Meanwhile, Zardari has sought time from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) till April 17 to submit reply in the fake accounts case.

Sources said the anti-corruption watchdog had received the letter written by the PPP co-chairman, but it was yet to take any decision on the request. Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur are scheduled to appear before the bureau on Monday (today).

The former president has advised the party workers not to come to the bureau. “I believe in facing the cases with patience,” he said in a statement. It is worth-mentioning that Zardari had earlier requested a 10-day relief from the NAB which ended on March 30.

Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court has barred the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from arresting Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz till April 8.

The LHC chief justice issued the order on a separate petition filed by Hamza's lawyer requesting the court to bar the NAB from arresting the leader of the opposition in the Punjab Assembly.

The chief justice held a brief hearing in his chamber and stopped the anti-graft body from arresting Hamza till Monday. A NAB team once again on Sunday cordoned off the PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif's Model Town residence to arrest Hamza.

Contingents of police, Rangers and anti-riot force surrounded Shehbaz's residence, 24 hours after the NAB first raided the PML-N president's family residence to arrest his son. In a related development, the Islamabad police have finalised security arrangements at the accountability court where Zardari and Faryal Talpur are scheduled to appear in the money laundering case.

As many as 2,000 police personnel will be stationed along with 200 personnel from the Punjab Rangers. DIG Operations Waqaruddin Syed said no unauthorised person will be allowed to enter the NAB court or to take the law into their own hands.