Nawaz Sharif approaches IHC for protective bail

Islamabad: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief and former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif is likely to approach Islamabad High Court (IHC) today (Wednesday) for protective bail in National Accountability Bureau (NAB) references.

According to details, the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is a proclaimed offender in Avenfield Reference and Al-Azizia Steel Mills Reference.

He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of eight million pounds in the Avenfield reference.

In the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference, the accountability court had sentenced Nawaz Sharif to seven years imprisonment and a fine.

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was also declared ineligible for public office for 10 years. Both appeals against his sentence were rejected for non-compliance.

A bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani dismissed the appeals.

Accountability Court has declared Nawaz Sharif as a proclaimed offender in the Tosha Khana reference as well. There is a possibility of filing protective bail applications in all three references.

The petition stated that Nawaz Sharif will land in Islamabad on October 21 by a special flight, security bail should be granted to reach the court.

In the petitions, it will be requested to prevent the arrest of Nawaz Sharif at the airport and protection will be sought to come to the High Court to surrender.

Court has allotted the number to the appeal filed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for security bond in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia reference. The lawyers have requested to hear the petition today.