ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered Former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to surrender before this court till September 10, in appeals pertaining to Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Avenfield property references. A division bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhter Kiyani on Tuesday conducted a hearing on a case seeking exemption from hearing for Nawaz Sharif on medical grounds in appeals pertaining to graft references.
The bench remarked that the court wanted to give an opportunity to the former prime minister to surrender and appear, before being declared an absconder. Justice Aamer Farooq remarked that the court would initiate the process to declare Nawaz Sharif as absconder if he failed to present himself before the court till the next date. Maryam Nawaz, Khawaja Haris, and NAB prosecutor Jahanzeb Bharwana appeared before the court. During the course of proceedings, Nawaz’s counsel Khawaja Haris pleaded that his client could still challenge the Punjab government’s decision for rejecting the extension of Nawaz Sharif’s bail despite the summons of this court.
To this Justice Farooq said that the court was not depriving the accused of his legal rights. Harris said that his client was not able to travel Pakistan due to his current health, adding that a relevant case was pending before Lahore High Court (LHC). He said that his bail was rejected at the time when he was under treatment in London.
Nawaz was allowed to travel abroad on the recommendation of the medical board as his treatment was not possible in Pakistan. Harris said that Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif had submitted an affidavit to LHC assuring that Nawaz would return soon after completion of his treatment.
Courtesy: APP
