Mar 26, 2019, 3:49 PM
News ID: 83255691
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Pakistani Court orders release of ex-PM Nawaz on bail

Mar 26, 2019, 3:49 PM
News ID: 83255691
Pakistani Court orders release of ex-PM Nawaz on bail

Islamabad, March 26, IRNA - The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday granted bail for six weeks to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to obtain medical treatment within the country, local media reported.

A three-member bench of the court led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa accepted the appeal against a surety bond of Rs5 million; however, with a restriction that he cannot leave the country.

During the next six weeks, Nawaz will be allowed to get treatment from a doctor of his own choice. After completion the time period, Nawaz will have to surrender himself, the judgment says.

Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to seven years in prison and was fined Rs1.5 billion and $25 million in the Al-Azizia corruption reference by an accountability court on December 24, 2018.

The former premier had filed a bail plea in the Islamabad High Court on medical grounds, but it was turned down last month, as the high court noted that 'none of the reports [about Sharif's condition] suggest that continued imprisonment of the petitioner, in any way, would be detrimental to his life'.

Sharif family has been fighting a series of cases on accusations of money laundering, tax evasion and hiding offshore assets.

On July 28, 2017, the Supreme Court verdict had, besides disqualifying then Prime Minister Nawaz from his position, also directed the accountability authority to file three references – regarding the family's Avenfield Properties, Al-Azizia, and Flagship Investment – before the accountability court.

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