Staff Reporter
Islamabad
The Islamabad High Court on Saturday issued notices to the Punjab Government and National Accountability Court while hearing a petition seeking the disposition of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s sentence in the Al-Azizia reference.
The petition was heard by a two-member divisional bench that includes IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani. The court had excluded Justice Aamir Farooq, as he is on a holiday.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, while hearing the case, remarked that the bench was set to hear the case on Tuesday. He added that the provincial government is empowered to dispose of a prisoner’s sentence, therefore the issue should have never come before the court.
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani asked why was there an urgency in holding an early hearing into the case. To this, the lawyer of the petitioner informed the court that the former premier had suffered a minor heart attack, and his health had further deteriorated after Friday. After a brief hearing, the court issued notices to the Punjab chief minister, NAB chairman and other parties in the case. The court also stated that the parties should appoint a representative and directed them to appear before the court later in the day.
During the course of the hearing, the chief justice remarked that the request for bail on medical grounds should not have been filed with the court to begin with, as the government has the authority to decide on such a matter.
Earlier in the day, when the court convened to decide on the request for an urgent hearing, the bench noted that a medical report had been submitted in the court during yesterday’s hearing of the bail plea and inquired why a request for an early hearing had to be filed today.
