Pakistan SC hears Sharif's bail plea

The Pakistan Supreme Court on Tuesday heard former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's petition against an Islamabad High Court (IHC) order rejecting his plea for bail on medical grounds in a corruption case.

Sharif was on December 24, 2018, sentenced to seven years in prison by an anti-corruption court in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case for owning a steel factory abroad without disclosing its ownership.

The former leader's appeal before the Supreme Court seeks his release on bail after suspending the execution of the December 2018 sentence, Dawn news reported.

The appeal contends that the IHC's February 25, 2019, order is in violation of his fundamental right to life.

The order held that none of Sharif's medical reports suggested that his continued incarceration would be detrimental to his life in any way, adding that he had been hospitalised time and again since January whenever he had complained about being indisposed.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Khosa, while citing Sharif's medical reports, observed that the former Prime Minister was suffering from a kidney stone, hepatitis, diabetes, heart problems and high blood pressure.

Justice Khosa said that the reports were being reviewed to ascertain how long Sharif had been suffering from these ailments.

The Supreme Court issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau and adjourned the hearing till March 26.

--IANS

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