IHC suspends Nawaz sentence for eight weeks.

Byline: SHAHID RAO

ISLAMABAD -- The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday suspended sentence of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and granted him bail for eight weeks in the Al-Azizia case on medical grounds.

A division bench of IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani conducted hearing of the bail plea filed by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif for his elder brother.

The court noted in its verdict, 'For the reasons to be recorded later the instant petition is allowed and the sentence of petitioner No 2 namely Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif handed down by the Accountability Court - II Islamabad in Reference No 19 of 2017 with respect to offence under Section 9(a)(v) read with Section 14(c) of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999, is suspended and he is admitted to bail for a period of eight (8) weeks from the date of his release subject to furnishing fresh bail bonds in the sum of Rs 2 million with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of Deputy Registrar (Judicial) of this court.'

'In case the indisposition of petitioner No 2 continues, he before the expiry period of eight (8) weeks, may approach the Government of Punjab under Section 401 (2) Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 and until the decision of the provincial government on the application, he shall continue to remain on bail,' said the IHC judgment.

It added, 'However, if petitioner No 2 does not approach the provincial government within the period mentioned hereinabove this order shall cease to have effect on lapse of period of eight (8) weeks and the bail granted shall stand revoked/cancelled.'

The verdict was reserved for a short period before it was announced later.

Before the verdict was reserved, Justice Aamer asked Nawaz's counsel, Khawaja Haris Advocate whether the president could grant amnesty to Nawaz before the bail plea is announced.

To this, Haris said that he could invoke his presidential powers at any time. However, customarily, all forums are first approached.

During the hearing, the court observed that NAB seemed to be the only party with a clear stance on the matter and that the federal and provincial governments were refraining from taking up a position.

Justice Farooq asked from Sharif's counsel, 'On which condition should the court grant you bail?' At this, Haris replied that on whichever condition that could give Nawaz Sharif a chance to recover. The court then presented Nawaz's counsel with four options including...