Tolga Akmen—AFP
Ousted prime minister allowed to seek treatment within Pakistan by Supreme Court of Pakistan, which has barred him from leaving the country
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday granted ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif bail for six weeks on medical grounds.
A three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, accepted Sharif’s bail plea after the Islamabad High Court had turned it down last month. In it’s ruling, the Islamabad High Court had claimed none of Sharif’s medical reports suggested his continued imprisonment would be detrimental to his life. The Supreme Court, in its judgment, said Sharif would be permitted to seek treatment at any hospital in Pakistan while he was free on bail—but would not be allowed to leave the country for treatment abroad. If Sharif requires a bail period of longer than six weeks, he can file a fresh appeal before the High Court, the Supreme Court added.
Sharif has also been directed to deposit two surety bonds of Rs. 5 million each.
The former prime minister is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence for corruption in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills. During proceedings, his lawyer Khawaja Haris said the former premier suffers from kidney disease and various heart ailments, which require an angiography. He said Sharif’s poor health also required constant monitoring of his blood sugar levels and blood pressure, which was not feasible while he was in jail. The legal counsel said Sharif should be given permission to consult his personal physicians and assured the court his client would not leave Pakistan and would surrender himself to the court at the conclusion of his bail period.