Punjab govt rejects Nawaz Sharif’s request for extension in bail

LAHORE: The Punjab government on Tuesday rejected the application of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif for extension in bail, stating that the PML-N supremo has failed to provide the required medical reports.

Law Minister Raja Basharat while addressing a press conference alongside provincial health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid and information minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan said the government had repeatedly asked the PML-N leader to furnish his reports.

“He has not been admitted to any hospital since he went to London for treatment. We have repeatedly asked his physician Dr Adnan Khan about the cardiac procedure. Dr Adnan failed to give any particular date,” Basharat said.

“The Islamabad High Court had given eight weeks to Nawaz. In the last 16 weeks we have not received any new reports from London,” he added.

Read also: Fawad Chaudhry seeks inquiry over Nawaz Sharif's 'questionable medical tests' in Punjab

The Punjab law minister added that a special board was constituted by the chief minister which kept requesting for fresh reports.

“After seven to eight observations, the board asked for new reports, however, the response we received from them was that the reports that had already been sent were conclusive and a decision should be taken on them,” he noted.

“Since no new reports were sent, the Punjab cabinet reached a decision on them and decided not to extend the bail,” Basharat said.

He added, “Rana Sanaullah came on the media a few days ago and said Nawaz would undergo a cardiac procedure on February 24, however, when we asked Dr Adnan, he refused to share a specific date and said the operation would be lined up in the next two to three weeks.”

As you can see no cardiac surgery has been done, he said.

Read also: Medical board rejects Nawaz's health reports, says they are 'incomplete'

The law minister further said in light of the reports they had, the Punjab government took the decision to not extend the bail. “We will now write to the federal government about the Punjab government’s decision. The federal government will decide on further course of action.”

Health Minister Yasmeen Rashid said Nawaz has been in a stable condition since he left. "We have not received any fresh reports from Nawaz Sharif since he went to UK", she said. 

Shehbaz terms decision as 'political revenge'

Responding to the Punjab government’s decision, PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif said the decision was political revenge. “The Punjab government’s decision is petty-mindedness and political revenge.”

He added the Punjab government had signed on the documents allowing Nawaz to travel abroad. “Today the Punjab government on the basis of political revenge, went back on its decision. The Punjab government's assertion that Nawaz's treatment was possible in Pakistan was nothing but a condemnable lie,” he said.

The PML-N leader further said that they had submitted all the reports on time. “Nawaz Sharif is not being allowed to live. Getting treatment is every person’s basic right and we will not comprise on Nawaz’s health.”

“Nawaz will continue to undergo treatment as per the doctor’s decision,” Shehbaz added.

Read also: Nawaz to undergo cardiac procedure, says physician

The court had permitted to remove Nawaz's name from the Exit Control List in October without any conditions for a time period of four weeks. 

In its decision, the LHC said that in case Nawaz's health doesn't improve then the time period can be extended, adding that the government officials will be able to contact Nawaz through the Pakistani embassy.