An application was filed in the Supreme Court by evicted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday regarding the extension in his six-week bail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference.
The application that was filed stated that Sharif asked for an extension in bail, which will expire on May 7. The further extension is requested until the verdict of his review petition is given, which appeals permission for Sharif to leave the country.
Sharif had requested the Supreme Court last week to permit him to go abroad for medical treatment through a review petition— four weeks into his bail, which does not allow him to leave the country.
Sharif’s counsel Khawaja Haris Ahmed argued, “Given the complicated and life-threatening nature of ischemic heart disease, carotid artery disease, lymphadenopathy, and renal artery stenosis, from which the petitioner [Nawaz Sharif] is admittedly suffering […] it is in the interest of justice that condition imposed for the petitioner’s release on bail merits review.”
It was stated that the only suitable option for Sharif’s treatment was the same medical practitioner who dealt with his case earlier in the United Kingdom.
The application stated that the petitioner had hope that a review petition would be accepted by SC. “Unforgivable damage will occur if the bail is not extended,” stated the application.
The Supreme Court had granted him bail on March 26 for six weeks but SC mentioned that Sharif would not travel out of Pakistan in this duration.
The previous and current medical reports and recommendation of Sharif were presented with the petition.
The decision taken on 25 February by the Islamabad High Court of rejecting the bail plea on medical grounds in Al Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference was challenged by the former PM. IHC suspended the sentence of Sharif in the Avenfield properties reference.
In its March 26 order, the Supreme Court had recalled that because of long, complicated cardiac surgical history, cardiac surgical backup was recommended during catheterisation. It has clearly been mentioned in such reports that while undergoing angiography, Sharif “will be at a mild [to] moderate risk of contrast including nephropathy”, the order said.
“In this peculiar backdrop, and extending due deference to the consistent medical opinion of senior doctors, counsel’s prayer regarding Nawaz Sharif’s admission to bail upon suspension of his sentence for a limited period has been found by us to be reasonable. This petition is, therefore, converted into an appeal and the same is allowed and consequently Nawaz Sharif is admitted to bail upon suspension of his sentence,” the order concluded.
The order was given by the SC also stated that Sharif will have to present himself to the law once the six week period expired and that another extension can’t be applied without surrendering himself.