DESPARDES (UPDATED): The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday granted bail to former premier Nawaz Sharif on medical grounds from the custody of the accountability watchdog. Bail has been granted in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case and the court ordered the PML-N leader to submit two surety bonds of Rs10 million each.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) had adjourned until 3pm after the court asked Punjab Advocate General Ahmed Jamal Sukhera, who was representing the provincial government, if Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz’s names were placed on the Exit Control List. Sukhera responded he could inform the court about the matter by 3pm.
Mian Shahbaz Sharif, the former Punjab Chief Minister and younger brother of incarcerated former PM Nawaz had filed two different court pleas on ‘serious’ health conditions of the latter, seeking immediate suspension of detention and permission to have treatment within or abroad.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday heard the appeal filed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President for Nawaz’s release on medical grounds from the custody of the accountability watchdog NAB.
Also on Friday, the Islamabad High Court heard a petition filed by Shahbaz Sharif seeking Nawaz’s release on bail on similar grounds.
Nawaz suffers from multiple ailments including high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiac. He has a stent and liver issues as well. He is in custody in Azizia Mills and Chaudhury Sugar Mills related cases.
The head of the medical board treating the former three-times-elected PM, Dr Ayaz Mehmood of Services Hospital, submitted a medical report and informed the Lahore High Court that Nawaz’s platelet was constantly reducing.
In Islamabad High Court, Dr Saleem Cheema, the medical superintendent of Services Hospital in Lahore, where Nawaz is being treated, said his condition is very serious. Cheema submitted a medical report to the court and said that while Nawaz is able to produce platelets, they keep getting destroyed. He said the three-time former prime minister has a very low platelet count.
Cheema, – a member of the medical boards – told IHC that Nawaz’s condition was serious and critical. Nawaz is being given the best possible facilities, he added.
The former premier has been receiving an almost daily transfusion of platelets.
While Nawaz is able to produce platelets, they keep getting destroyed, the doctor told LHC.
Meanwhile, the IHC adjourned the hearing of petition seeking suspension of Nawaz’s sentence until Tuesday.
The hearing was adjourned as the five-day treatment cycle of Nawaz will end on Tuesday and doctors would be in a better position to report on the former premier’s health.
Sharifs attorney Khawaja Harris told the court Nawaz has the right to get treatment from whichever doctors he wants, be they in Pakistan or abroad. Justice Farooq said doctors are the best judge.
IHC judges said this case involved medicine more than it involved the law. Doctors know best, they said.
Originally reported in The Express Tribune, Dawn, Samaa.
