LHC grants Nawaz bail in sugar mills case.

Byline: Shahzad Ahmad

LAHORE -- A division bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday granted bail to former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on medical grounds in Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) case.

The bail petition had been filed on Thursday by Shehbaz Sharif for the release of his elder brother from the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for his treatment.

The bench directed the petitioner for furnishing two surety bonds worth Rs10 million each to avail the relief. The bench consisting of Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem heard the post-arrest bail petition.

Although the former prime minister was granted bail in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, he cannot not be released until Islamabad High Court decides a petition seeking suspension of his sentence, and release on bail, in the Al-Azizia case. The IHC will hear that petition on Tuesday.

During the hearing at the LHC on Friday, Advocate General Punjab Ahmad Jamal Sukhera apprised the court that Nawaz Sharif was being given medical treatment as per international practices and he could not travel abroad in the current health condition.

NAB prosecutor submitted that it would have to be determined whether Nawaz could be treated in the country or not, saying that the life of everyone was precious.

Prof Dr Ayaz Mehmood, head of the medical board constituted for treatment of the former premier, submitted that initially the board consisted of six doctors but later four more members were added including personal physician of Nawaz Sharif. He submitted that the board visited the ex-PM thrice a day and also held meetings regarding the treatment procedure.

Prof Ayaz said that Nawaz Sharif was suffering from multiple diseases including diabetics, hypertension and heart complications with low platelet count. He said the board had yet not been able to diagnose the reason for his recent deterioration of health; however, dengue and several other possible causes had been ruled out after the medical tests.

'Although the body [of Nawaz] is generating platelet, they are being destroyed,' he said. He further submitted that Nawaz Sharif had lost 5kg weight during the past two to three months.

A day earlier it was reported that the medical board had diagnosed the reason for Nawaz's deteriorating health. A board member was quoted as saying, 'It is acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a bleeding disorder, in which the immune system destroys platelets. We are hopeful...