Nawaz Sharif granted bail in Al-Azizia case on medical grounds

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday approved former prime minister Nawaz Sharif bail on medical grounds in the Al-Azizia reference case.

The petition was heard by a two-member bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani. The divisional bench approved the bail plea until Tuesday October 29 against two surety bonds of Rs1 million each.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif approached the court for an early hearing seeking bail for his elder brother in the Al Azizia case.

At the preliminary hearing, the IHC ordered the prime minister, the chief minister of Punjab and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman to submit their response through their representatives.

During the hearing, Additional Prosecutor General of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) said that the authority has no objection to the bail of Nawaz Sharif on medical grounds.

Nawaz Sharif’s counsel informed that his client suffered a mild heart attack and a medical report to this effect was also submitted in the Lahore High Court.

The PML-N submitted the bail bonds in the case following the decision. A day earlier, the Lahore High Court has granted bail to Nawaz Sharif in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case.

PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb thanked people for praying for Nawaz Sharif. Meanwhile, a large number of PML-N workers gathered outside the Services Hospital in Lahore and celebrated the decision announced by the IHC.