LHC allows Hamza to stay in London for another 14 days

Punjab Assembly opposition leader is visiting his wife and newborn child who need medical care

LAHORE:  

The Lahore High Court on Monday, admitting the plea of Punjab Assembly Opposition leader Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, allowed him to stay in London for another 14 days so he may care for his newborn daughter.

The permission was granted when the petitioner’s counsel told the court that Hamza’s newborn daughter underwent a cardiac procedure due to a complication at birth. He said the petitioner had to care for both the newborn daughter and his wife who was also in London.

He asked the court to grant Hamza a further stay in London, adding that the opposition leader would return after the completion of his daughter’s medical treatment.

A government law officer opposed the argument, saying the petitioner should have returned to the country within the timeframe specified by the court. However, Justice Farrukh Irfan Khan allowed Hamza Shahbaz to stay with his family in London for another 14 days.

The court had granted permission to Hamza to visit his wife in London for ten days and he was to return on February 13. However, he moved the court through his counsel and sought an extension of his stay in the UK.

In his main petition, Hamza approached the court against his name being included on the Passport Control List/Black List. He pleaded that he was required to visit his ailing wife in UK.

The petitioner, through his counsel, contended that the interior ministry placed him on the black list in an arbitrary manner and in sheer violation of fundamental rights. The ministry placed Hamza on the no-fly list on the advice of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), which was holding multiple inquiries against him.

Hamza, along with his father Shahbaz Sharif and brother Salman Shahbaz, is facing multiple inquiries by the NAB. Cases included those related to Ramzan Sugar Mills, road/drain construction and assets accumulated beyond known means.