IHC extend protective bail bail of Nawaz Sharif until Oct 26

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on a plea of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif seeking to revive his appeals against the sentences of in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia references.

The IHC special bench, comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mian Gull Hassan Aurangzeb, conducted a hearing on appeals.

During the hearing, Nawaz’s counsel Azam Nazir Tarar appeared before the bench, emphasizing that these were candid requests to revive his client’s appeals against his conviction.

Upon this, Chief Justice Aamer Farooq remarked that the next step would be to issue a notice to NAB to hear their stance. In response, Tarar assured the court that he would provide evidence to substantiate his case.
The court inquired about the possibility of issuing such declarations and whether they could later request the revival of the appeals.

The court said that Nawaz Sharif has to justify why he didn’t appear in court earlier, despite a summon by the court. The court made it clear that the law would take its course.

Tarar emphasized that Nawaz Sharif had not deliberately absconded; rather, he had left the country with court’s permission. The legal team has consistently presented medical reports to the court, he said.
Chief Justice Aamer Farooq noted that Nawaz Sharif’s custody was under the jurisdiction of this court, but he appeared before another court.

Tarar responded, stating that they had informed the court of the relief sought from another court.

Chief Justice Aamer Farooq said that the revival of appeals was not a routine matter. They needed to convince the court why Nawaz Sharif was absent.

Nawaz’s counsel replied that the NAB court had done away with the status of being an absconder. Nawaz Sharif has encountered numerous difficulties during this entire period, including the demise of his mother and wife, he said.
Justice Aurangzeb remarked that all allegations were usually thrown at the courts, and they should examine NAB’s conduct. Why were they wasting the court’s time?

Chief Justice Aamer Farooq asked whether NAB wanted to arrest Nawaz Sharif again. In response, the NAB prosecutor general stated that they did not want to arrest Nawaz Sharif.

The court extended Nawaz Sharif’s protective bail until October 26.

It’s worth noting that the Islamabad High Court had previously granted Nawaz Sharif protective bail and ordered that he not be arrested, and NAB had raised no objections to the protective bail.

Read more: Nawaz Sharif granted bail in Toshakhana Case

Reportedly, the PML-N workers who came from Gilgit, subjected to torture a citizen outside the Court for using swear words against Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

According to the PML-N workers, when the citizen abused their leader, they warned him. But he again called his name, on which the PML-N supporters beat him.

Seeing that the PML-N workers were thrashing a man, police interfered and took the citizen with them.

The PML-N supporters said that they would not let anyone abuse and raise slogans against their leader.