LHC grants bail to Nawaz Sharif on medical grounds in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case.

LAHORE -- Two-member bench of Lahore High Court (LHC) headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi on Friday approved incarcerated former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif's bail petition on medical grounds against two surety bonds worth Rs 10 million in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case. The court has directed NAB authorities to release Nawaz Sharif in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case.

Nawaz Sharif had requested the court to grant permission for getting treatment from abroad. During proceedings in the court on Friday, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) did not object to the bail plea filed by PML-N President Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the brother of former prime minister, on Thursday.

The NAB prosecutor informed the court that the name of Nawaz Sharif is present on ECL. Former attorney general of Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali and Azam Nazeer Tarar Advocate appeared before the bench on behalf of Nawaz Sharif and presented arguments.

Shehbaz Sharif was present in the court as the proceedings resumed after a break. Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS) Principal Dr Mahmood Ayaz submitted Nawaz's fresh medical report.

Although the former premier is set to be released from the custody of NAB, he will not be free until a request seeking the suspension of his sentence, and release on bail, in the Al Azizia case is granted by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which will next hold a hearing on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz's recent plea for immediate release on humanitarian grounds has been adjourned by the LHC till Monday.

Nawaz's counsel was informed that the former premier will not be able to go abroad for treatment until the names of both Nawaz and Maryam are removed from the Exit Control List. For this, a separate request will have to be filed.

Earlier on Friday the prosecution and defence had concluded their arguments in the case. The anti-corruption watchdog's prosecutor told the court that "every life, including that of Nawaz Sharif, is precious", adding that the former premier's condition was treatable.

After a struggle of three days, a six-member medical board, headed by Services Hospital Principal Ayaz Mahmood, had on Thursday diagnosed the reason for Nawaz's declining health. "It is acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a bleeding disorder, in which the immune system destroys platelets," a board member had told Dawn yesterday. "We are hopeful that his condition will...