NAB reply sought on withdrawal of suspension of sentence plea in Al Azizia verdict

IHC to hear general appeal and petition for suspension of sentence on medical grounds tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Monday sought a reply from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on a general writ petition filed by Nawaz Sharif seeking suspension of his sentence in the Al-Azizia reference.

The former three-time premier is currently serving a seven-year term at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail after being convicted by an accountability court in the Al-Azizia reference in December last year.



Days after the conviction, Sharif’s legal team had filed a general writ petition for suspension of the sentence. This was followed by an appeal challenging the verdict and another seeking suspension of the sentence on medical grounds.

During Monday’s hearing, Sharif's counsel, Khawaja Haris, submitted a request for withdrawal of the general writ petition. He told the court that the ex-PM's defence team had decided to pursue the writ petition for suspension of the Al-Azizia sentence on medical grounds.

Consequently, the high court bench comprising Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani scheduled hearings of both suspension of sentence pleas on Tuesday (tomorrow) and sought NAB’s comments on the withdrawl of the general writ petition.

Nawaz back in jail against medical board’s advice

The development comes amid rising speculation over the former prime minister's health. On February 2, Sharif was transferred from Kot Lakhpat Jail to Services Hospital in Lahore where he underwent multiple tests administered by a medical board.

He was shifted back to prison on February 7, a decision that was taken by Sharif family despite the medical board's recommendation for further tests at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology.