LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader and former premier Nawaz Sharif has been granted bail on medical grounds by the Lahore High Court.
Detailed report of a 10-member medical board on former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s health was submitted in Lahore High Court (LHC) earlier in the day.
Dr. Mehmood Ayaz representing the medical board, appeared before the court and informed that the bone marrow of Sharif indicated no signs of concern but the former premier’s platelets count was unstable, making it difficult to arrive at a conclusive decision over his condition.
A two-judge bench of the Lahore High Court headed by Justice Baqir Ali Najafi approved the PML-N supreme leader’s bail plea in the case pertaining to Chaudhry Sugar Mills owing to his precarious health situation.
The former prime minister who was facing corruption investigations fell critically ill a few days prior and is still under intensive care.
The bail will materialise after Sharif submits two surety bonds worth Rs 10 million each.
The former premier will only be able to walk free if he is granted bail in the Al Azizia reference and Avenfield Properties Case, both being heard by Islamabad High Court.
Verdict on Nawaz Sharif’s bail plea in Al Azizia reference is scheduled to be announced on Tuesday (Oct 29).
In a press conference, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar had said the Sharif family used Chaudhry Sugar Mills for money-laundering and illegal transfer of its shares.
During the probe, it was revealed that a $15 million loan was taken on the pretext to set up the mill despite the fact that it had already been established before the loan was acquired, the special assistant claimed. He had added that the loan was never transferred to Pakistan as shown by the record of the State Bank of Pakistan.
He had said more than Rs7 million worth of shares were transferred to PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz in 2008 through mill’s shares, which were later transferred to Yousaf Abbas Sharif in 2010.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif on Friday thanked judiciary, lawyers and party leaders after Lahore High Court (LHC) approved incarcerated former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s bail petition on medical grounds against two surety bonds worth Rs10 million.
Talking to media outside Lahore High Court on Friday, he said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s condition is critical and his bail is a wave of happiness for the entire nation.
The PML-N president appealed the nation to pray for the health of his brother and party supremo.
Shehbaz went on to say that Sharif’s disease had not been diagnosed yesterday but it has been confirmed that he has no complaints of dengue nor reaction of any of the medicines he took for heart.
On the other hand, the workers of the PML-N distributed sweets outside Services Hospital Friday afternoon in celebration of Nawaz Sharif’s bail being approved.
The former premier is currently being treated at Services Hospital. His bail plea was approved by the Lahore High Court Friday afternoon.
After the verdict, the workers came on roads and danced to the tune of drums. They also chanted slogans in favor of Nawaz Sharif. – NNI