Al-Azizia reference: Nawaz requests to submit additional documents in IHC

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif filed a plea with the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking permission to submit additional documents in his bail petition on medical grounds in the Al-Azizia reference on Wednesday.

In his petition, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo stated that he be allowed to submit verified medical reports by foreign doctors for the fulfilment of justice.

On June 15, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had requested the IHC to throw out a petition filed by Nawaz seeking his release from prison on medical grounds.

In its response, the probe authority took the stance that the former prime minister’s health is in no imminent danger.

The NAB stated that the medical reports did not suggest a surgery anytime soon and the court had sentenced Nawaz Sharif keeping in view his medical history.

The probe body said that Nawaz cannot be released on bail by suspension of sentence.

An accountability court on December 24 had found the PML-N leader guilty in the Al Azizia Steel Mills reference and sentenced him to seven years in prison.

In a short verdict announced, the court said there was concrete evidence against the former premier in the Al-Azizia reference and that he was unable to provide a money trail in the case.

The court ordered that Nawaz be "sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for a term of seven years along with a fine if Rs1.5 billion and US$25 million".