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

Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday granted bail to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for medical reasons in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case.

The president of PML-N, Shehbaz Sharif, had submitted the bail request to free his brother from the custody of the National Responsibility Office (NAB).

According to the brief request, the former prime minister will have to present two bonds worth Rs10 million each for his release in the case.

"We requested bail on the grounds that his health conditions were deteriorating and that he needed better treatment," said his lawyer, Azam Nazir Tarar. Reuters after the sentence.

It is not clear if Nawaz would be transferred to another hospital or if he would be allowed to go abroad for treatment, as his lawyer had requested.

While the former prime minister is scheduled to be released from NAB custody, he will not be released until the Islamabad Superior Court (IHC) grants a request for suspension of his sentence and bail. , which will then hold a hearing on Tuesday.

Similarly, the recent request of PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz for immediate release for humanitarian reasons has been postponed by the LHC until Monday.

In addition, the names of Nawaz and Maryam are on the Exit Control List. Nawaz's lawyer was informed that a separate application will have to be filed challenging the placement on the air exclusion list.

Earlier today, the prosecution and defense had concluded their arguments in the case.

A two-member bank, headed by Judge Baqar Najafi, had heard the petition. The prosecutor of the anti-corruption agency told the court that "all lives, including that of Nawaz Sharif, are precious," adding that the condition of the former prime minister was treatable.

After a three-day fight, a six-member medical board, headed by the director of the Hospital of Services, Ayaz Mahmood, had diagnosed on Thursday the reason for the deterioration of Nawaz's health. "It is acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a bleeding disorder, in which the immune system destroys platelets," said a board member Dawn Yesterday. "We hope that your condition will improve in a few days."

Doctors have said that the disease is treatable.

Today, Dr. Ayaz presented a detailed medical report from the former prime minister. He told the court that a medical board, which also includes Nawaz's personal physician, meets twice a day to discuss the condition of the supreme PML-N.

Nawaz's lawyer, Ashtar Ausaf, told the court today that the former prime minister's condition was "extremely serious."

Dr. Ayaz told the court that Nawaz's platelet count was constantly decreasing, adding that the hospital had run tests to see if Nawaz suffered from dengue.

"We inject platelets every day but they are destroyed every day," said Dr. Ayaz and added: "Something or another is destroying the platelets of Nawaz Sharif."

He said steroids will have to be injected to treat Nawaz.

"We have to perform a bone marrow test, but we can't inject a needle into Nawaz Sharif's bone."

Dr. Ayaz informed the court that Nawaz is a patient with diabetes and also suffers from other ailments.

The bank had told the doctor to inform the court about Nawaz's recent condition before 12 p.m. and had postponed the hearing until later in the day.

Earlier this month, an accountability court had granted NAB a 14-day Nawaz physical prison in connection with the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case. Preventive detention had expired today.

IHC questions Nawaz's health risk

Meanwhile, a two-member IHC bank composed of Judge Aamir Farooq and Judge Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard Shehbaz's request to suspend Nawaz's sentence in Al-Azizia's case and release her on bail.

During the process, the Medical Superintendent of Hospital Services (MS), Dr. Saleem Cheema, a member of the medical board, said Nawaz's condition is dangerous.

The judge noted that the situation was not described as dangerous in the report. Dr. Cheema, however, clarified that he had been mentioned towards the end of the report, which was presented in court.

The doctor said that the former prime minister's condition had not yet been diagnosed, adding that while platelets were forming, the levels also decreased. He said they have to do some tests, but they can only do it once Nawaz's health improves.

Judge Kayani asked if the former prime minister was receiving the best treatment, to which the doctor responded affirmatively.

The IHC judge asked if there was a threat to the former prime minister's life, in response to which Dr. Cheema said: "If you do not receive immediate treatment, your life is in danger."

He added that Nawaz's personal doctor, Dr. Adnan Khan, was aware of the situation.

"Is there a risk factor? Is this a deadly disease?" Judge Kayani asked, to which Dr. Cheema replied: "If it is not treated."

Judge Farooq said that doctors are the best judges in this situation and can provide the correct information about medical treatment.

The court asked Dr. Adnan Khan what his concerns were, adding that if he wanted he could attend the hearing or present his concerns in writing.

The hearing was postponed until Tuesday.

At the conclusion of the procedure, Judge Kayani said they were not medical experts and that doctors would have to explain if there was a threat to Nawaz's life.

He said that Nawaz could not be granted bail on a legal basis; however, the court was looking at the petition through the lens of the former prime minister's medical condition.

The accountability court hears the case of Chaudhry Sugar Mills

Meanwhile, an accountability court in Lahore, where a hearing was held on the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, had demanded Nawaz's report by 1pm today.

NAB presented Maryam Nawaz and Yousuf Abbas, both named in the case, before the liability court. The court extended his judicial detention until November 8 and postponed the hearing until then.

Maryam's bail statement was postponed until Monday

The LHC also heard a petition filed by Maryam Nawaz, seeking immediate bail based on fundamental rights and humanity.

The PML-N leader had filed the petition yesterday while the court had issued a notice to NAB.

The accountability regulator today looked for time to submit its response to the petition. The court granted the statement and ordered NAB to submit the response before Monday, which is when the hearing was postponed until.

Meanwhile, Maryam was taken to a hospital for her medical checkup.