ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court set aside the plea filed by the former prime minister Nawaz Shari seeking suspension of sentence on medical grounds in the Al Azizia reference case.
Earlier, IHC reserved the verdict over the Nawaz Sharif plea on medical grounds. Detailed and written orders will be issued later.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, pronounced the verdict which they earlier they reserved after hearing arguments from the counsel of Sharif and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor.
During today’s hearing, Sharif’s lead defence counsel Khawaja Haris Ahmed informed the court that the former premier was seeking suspension of sentence and subsequent release for medical reasons.
Khawaja Haris argued that “more than 60 per cent health condition of the former premier is in danger (sic)” and that he needs further treatment.
He said that treatment was also essential to reduce the mental stress Sharif was facing in jail.
Justice Kiyani asked the counsel if doctors had declared that Sharif’s cure was not possible in the country. The counsel replied in the affirmative, adding that the former premier’s health condition was deteriorating day by day.
On Dec 24, 2018, accountability court Judge Mohammad Arshad Malik had convicted Sharif in the reference and awarded him seven years imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs1.5 billion and $25 million.
