Nawaz Sharif should appear before court via video link: Fawad Chaudhry
Former three-time premier Nawaz Sharif has been in London since November 2019 on medical grounds. Despite several summons he has failed to appear before the court, which is now set to declare him as a 'proclaimed offender'. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif should appear before the court through video link, and proceedings in the cases against him should be initiated immediately, said Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday.
In a tweet, the science and technology minister appreciated the use of technology in judicial proceedings and wondered why such tools were not being used in the cases against Nawaz.
He referred to the use of video link in the cases against former president Asif Ali Zardari, and asked why such measures cannot be adopted in the proceedings against Nawaz.
"Tomorrow the accountability is going to charge Asif Zardari through video link. The use of technology in courts is very welcome. The question is, why is the technology not being used in the cases against Nawaz Sharif. The proceedings against him should begin immediately and Nawaz Sharif should join via video link," tweeted Chaudhry
Nawaz, who was serving a seven-year jail term after his conviction in a graft case in December 2018, was granted interim bail in October 2018 in view of his debilitating health condition. He was later also granted rare permission to fly to London to get medical treatment on November 17, 2019.
The former premier has been in London since November last year despite the Punjab government's April order directing him to immediately surrender to authorities and complete his jail term.
An accountability court has recently started the process to declare Nawaz a “proclaimed offender” in a case pertaining to bending rules of Toshakhana – the official gift depository –for their personal benefit.
The court ordered putting up an advertisement for Nawaz's summons in the court premises. It gave the PML-N supreme leader one last chance, directing him to appear before the court on August 17 and face the reference.
Meanwhile, according to Nawaz's recent medical reports submitted before the court, the former three-time premier is suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney and heart disease and has been advised against leaving his house as Covid-19 could prove to be deadly for him.