LHC adjourns hearing of Hamza’s bail plea

PML-N leader seeks bail due to coronavirus risk

LAHORE: A Lahore High Court division bench on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Hamza Shehbaz Sharif’s bail plea after his lawyer sought time to argue for its maintainability following the suspension by the Supreme Court of all high courts’ orders for releasing prisoners of certain categories due to risk of spread of coronavirus.

As the bench headed by Justice Sardar Ahmed Naeem commenced proceedings, the judge remarked that the Supreme Court had suspended such orders of all high courts. The bench asked how the plea seeking post-arrest bail to avoid coronavirus could be maintainable.

Hamza’s counsel sought time to assist the bench on the matter and the court adjourned the proceedings till April 7.



The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader had requested his release in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. He sought bail in an assets beyond means inquiry of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

In the application filed through Advocate Amjad Pervez, Shehbaz implored the court that a health emergency has been imposed by the federal and provincial governments. In this regard, the principle of social distancing is being strictly implemented throughout the country.

The petition said the confined space of a prison makes it virtually impossible to maintain social distancing. As per media reports, a coronavirus patient had already been discovered in a jail in Lahore. The petitioner said his life was at risk in the prevailing situation.

He stated that all the high courts of the country had issued directives for the release of not only the under-trial prisoners but also some convicts under specified guidelines. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2020.