Courts shower ‘big relief’ on Nawaz Sharif, clear way for his return

 

 

Clearing the way for the PML-N supremo’s return to Pakistan, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and the accountability court approved protective bail to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Al-Azizia and Avenfield references, and Toshakhana case respectively on Thursday, two days ahead of his planned return to the country from abroad, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

While pronouncing its verdict to grant protective bail to Nawaz Sharif, the two-judge IHC bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb also directed authorities not to arrest the PML-N Quaid at the airport and approved bail to him until October 24.

The court, however, warned that further action will be taken if Nawaz Sharif does appear before the court by October 24.

The big relief came before Nawaz Sharif’s impending arrival on October 21 in Islamabad, after spending over four years in self-imposed exile.

Nawaz Sharif’s counsels, including former law minister Azam Nazir Tarar and Amjad Pervaiz, appeared before the court on Thursday while NAB prosecutors Rana Maqsood, Qureshi and Naeem Sanghera were also present.

During the proceedings, Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer Amjad Pervaiz argued the court had previously granted protective bail to individuals declared as absconders, but willing to surrender before the court.

NAB prosecutor Naeem Sanghera informed the IHC that the Bureau had no objection to Nawaz Sharif’s bail and mentioned that the instructions had come from the NAB prosecutor general.

Earlier, the court cancelled today's cause list which also included cases relating to PTI Chairman Imran Khan. The IHC said it will only hear Nawaz Sharif's pleas for protective bail.

Yesterday, the IHC had adjourned the hearing of the petitions filed by Nawaz Sharif, seeking protective bails in Al-Azizia and Avenfield cases until today. Issuing a notice to the NAB while hearing the petitions, the two-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, put off the hearing.

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.

AC verdict in Toshakhana case

An accountability court in Islamabad has approved PML-N Quaid and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s plea and suspended his perpetual arrest warrants until October 24 in Toshakhana case.

Judge Muhammad Bashir while pronouncing his ruling which he reserved earlier on Thursday morning declared that the arrest warrants would automatically be restored if Nawaz Sharif does appear in court on October 24.

The court earlier in the day reserved the judgement on the plea for protective bail to Nawaz Sharif in the Toshakhana case.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor gave a statement in favour of suspending arrest warrants for Nawaz Sharif.

“Nawaz Sharif wants to face cases in court. He will arrive in Pakistan on October 21. The court is requested to suspend his arrest warrants till October 24,” Qazi Misbah, the lawyer for Nawaz Sharif, pleaded with the court.

“You have also filed a petition in the High Court,” Judge Bashir questioned.

“No, I did not approach the High Court in this case,” Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer replied.

“The Toshakhana case against Nawaz Sharif is a matter of NAB Court 3,” Judge Muhammad Bashir said and sought the record of Nawaz Sharif’s case.

“It is written in all documents why Nawaz Sharif left Pakistan. The undertaking was given by Shehbaz Sharif,” Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer told the court.

“Did you file a plea for protective bail in the High Court in this case?” Judge Muhammad Bashir questioned.

“The plea for protective bail was not filed in the High Court in the Toshakhana case,” the lawyer told the court.

“Arrest warrants have been issued in the Toshakhana case. No decision has been taken. Ishaq Dar’s arrest warrants were suspended in a similar case,” he further told the court.

“It is a case of NAB court. We’ll see it. Let the record come first,” the judge said.

“What is the status of other suspects in the case, including Asif Zardari?” the judge asked.

Asif Zardari and others are appearing in court through their respective representatives, lawyer Misbah responded.

Judge Bashir again asked if the other suspects in the case have been arrested. The lawyer responded in the negative. He said no arrest has been made in the Toshakhana case as yet.

Qazi Misbah said he will present detailed arguments on October 24. He further said Nawaz Sharif will reach Pakistan on October 21, and sought permission to be allowed to appear in court.

After arguments and further proceedings, the court, subsequently, reserved its verdict. It shortly announced that the warrants were suspended till October 24 and directed that Nawaz should appear before the court by then, otherwise, further action would be taken.

The case accused Nawaz Sharif, former president Asif Ali Zardari and ex-prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani of receiving luxury vehicles and gifts from the Toshakhana — a department that stores gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats and officials by heads of other governments, states, and foreign dignitaries.

Nawaz in Dubai

Nawaz Sharif reportedly has reached Dubai from Saudi Arabia. He is due to board a chartered plane on October 21 and will land in Islamabad in the evening. He will later travel to Lahore to address a public gathering at Minar-i-Pakistan.

Nawaz will travel to Lahore after consultations: Atta Tarar

Attaullah Tarar, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and counsel for the former prime minister and the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, said on Thursday that the former prime minister would first reach Islamabad before heading to Lahore.

Speaking to newsmen outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC), he said that Nawaz would travel to Lahore after holding consultations with members of his legal team.

Lawyers chant slogans outside IHC

The moment they learnt that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had accepted protective bail petitions of Nawaz in Al-Azizia and Avenfield references, the lawyers, belonging to the PML-N, present outside the court exploded into ecstasy and chanted slogans in their leader’s favour.

“Nawaz Sharif, go ahead. We are with you, we are with you,” they chanted.

They also shouted, “Long live Nawaz Sharif, Long live PML-N.”  

Security arrangements complete for PML-N rally

Over 10, 000 officials and jawans of Lahore Police will perform security duties in and around Lahore’s Greater Iqbal Park during the PML-N’s public gathering.

As many as 10 SPs, 35 DSPs and SHOs of the city’s all police stations will be present at the venue to provide security to the event.

Elite Force personnel will be deployed in and around the stage to provide security to the VVIPs.

Close to 4,000 CCTV cameras have also been installed at the park to keep an eye on any suspicious activity.

These cameras will be connected to the Safe City where arrangements have been made for the live monitoring of the event.

There will be eight points through which people will be able to enter the park.

Bodies of the participants will be completely frisked before allowing them to enter the venue.

Security personnel in plainclothes will also be present there to further beef up the security.

 

Reporters: Rozeena Ali, Farzana Siddique, Tayyab Saif and Irfan Malik