The Islamabad High Court has adjourned the hearing into petitions filed by former prime minister and PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif seeking protective bail in Al-Aziziya and Avenfield cases, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Issuing notice to the NAB while hearing the petitions on Wednesday, the two-judge IHC bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb put off the hearing for Thursday (tomorrow).
The IHC division bench took up the bail petitions hours after they were filed by Nawaz Sharif’s lawyers ahead of his return to the country on October 21.
Soon after the pleas were filed, the court allotted numbers to them as the registrar did not raise any objection.
Former prime minister’s legal team appeared in the court. Nawaz’s lawyer, on the occasion, told the court that his client wanted to surrender.
Nawaz’s lawyers requested protective bail in Al-Aziziya and Avenfield case in light of the IHC’s previous verdicts.
Lawyer Amjad Pervaiz argued that the courts have traditionally provided a chance to people who surrendered in front of the court. He added that people declared absconders have also been given protective bails. He also added that Nawaz had never misused his bail from courts.
In response, the National Accountability Bureau’s prosecutor said that there was no objection if someone wanted to surrender in front of the court. However, he said that the NAB chairman was currently outside the country.
The bench then issued notices to all parties in the case and adjourned the hearing for tomorrow.
It was stated in the petition that Nawaz was due to land at Islamabad airport on October 21. “And since he will head straight to the court after arrival, therefore, the court is requested to grant him protective bail plea,” it added.
In the application, Nawaz Sharif has requested for a protective bail for surrendering before the law. He has said that he intends to face the cases against him, so the authorities should be barred from arresting him to enable him to reach the court.
The application states that Nawaz Sharif will land in Islamabad on a special flight on October 21, asking for a protective bail to reach the court.
In the application, Nawaz claims that undemocratic forces have targeted him and his family over political vendetta in the past. “Law has been used as a weapon against us by law enforcement agencies,” he further claimed, adding that he and his family were targeted during a dictator's rule and governments of political opponents.
Nawaz had been sentenced to 10 years in prison in the Avenfield case and seven years in the Al-Aziziya case. His bail applications had been disposed of on June 2021 after he did not show up in court. The IHC had also declared him an absconder.
Nawaz Sharif had also been disqualified from holding public office for 10 years.
A two-member IHC bench had heard the appeals of Nawaz Sharif against the accountability court judgement.
The IHC, however, disposed of Nawaz Sharif's appeals in June 2021 due to his prolonged stay in London.
Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani had disposed of Nawaz Sharif’s appeals for non-compliance.
Plea for protective bail to Nawaz Sharif in Toshakhana case filed
A plea for protective bail to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was filed Wednesday in an accountability court in Islamabad in the Toshakhana case, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The lawyers for Nawaz Sharif filed the plea for protective bail in the accountability court.
The plea pleaded with the court to suspend the perpetual warrant for Nawaz Sharif.
“The perpetual warrant for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif should be suspended till October 24,” it requested.
Reporters: Rozeena Ali and Farzana Siddique