Can’t play the medical cards anymore; Pakistan SC rejects permanent bail to Nawaz Sharif

News Bharati    04-May-2019
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Islamabad, May 4: Distancing himself, former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif always used medical reasons to get away with the jail term. But, not this time. Giving a clear indication of ‘enough is enough’, the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday rejected a petition by Nawaz Sharif for an extension in the bail granted to him on medical grounds in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference.

 

The former Pakistan Prime Minister has been granted bail on medical grounds by the Supreme Court on March 26 for a duration of six weeks. Later, on April 25, he submitted a review petition to the apex court asking for a permanent bail. His bail is set to expire on May 7.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa also rejected the premier's plea to allow him to travel abroad for treatment. Chief Justice Khosa, during the hearing remarked that the bench "will not talk about anything concerning the future". "Doctors can comment better on his illness," the top judge observed, adding, "This was part of the package that you can request for a bail extension after six weeks."

Giving unnecessary medical reasons citing that Nawaz Sharif’s condition seems crucial and needs treatment in abroad, the court bluntly refused the petition. The court stated that the treatment can be done in the country with best medical facilities and also pointed out that the reports suggest Sharif’s condition to be good.

Nawaz, thrice the prime minister of Pakistan, had been in jail since December 2018 following his conviction in Al Azizia corruption reference in line with the Supreme Court’s July 2017 verdict. An accountability court on December 24 had found the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader guilty in the Al Azizia Steel Mills reference and sentenced him to seven years in prison.