Shahbaz Sharif bail hearing: Don't guess verdict till written order issued, says Lahore High Court

• Court tells Shahbaz's counsel not to 'guess' verdicts before receiving them in writing. 
• Decision to grant bail or not can be made only after knowing all the facts, Lahore High Court tells PML-N leader Shahbaz Sharif's lawyer.
• Shahbaz's release from jail was earlier delayed due to a hung decision on his bail plea.
• Following the split decision, the LHC had formed a new bench to decide upon the matter.

LAHORE: A decision on whether bail should be granted or not to PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif can only be made after knowing all the facts, the Lahore High Court stated during the National Assembly opposition leader's bail hearing on Wednesday.

A three-member bench of the LHC, headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, and comprising Justice Aalia Neelum and Justice Shahbaz Rizvi, has taken up the PML-N president's bail case. Shahbaz is represented by counsel Azam Nazeer Tarar, who appeared before the court today.

Shahbaz had earlier not been released by jail authorities despite reports that he had supposedly been cleared for bail by court. It later emerged that the matter had been a subject of some confusion, and the bench that heard the plea had actually been split in its decision on the matter.

Read about the delay in Shahbaz Sharif's release from jail on bail

The matter then went forward to the LHC chief justice, who appointed a full bench to hear the case.

Shahbaz has been in NAB custody since September 28, 2020.

During Wednesday's hearing, Tarar complained that, in his 27 years of advocacy, he had never seen a verdict being reversed after three days.

At this, the court told him that "one should never tell a client the outcome till they see the verdict in writing".

Tarar insisted that the court had granted bail, but the decision was reversed. 

However, the court said one should not make any guesses [about a verdict] till the written order is received. 

"This is a lesson for you," the court told Shahbaz's lawyer.

Read more: LHC grants Shehbaz Sharif bail in assets beyond means case

Retorting, Tarar said "we are learning from the court every day". 

He argued that the court should consider both decisions in the split verdict and expressed the fear that the case may not be heard again.

"It is important for us to know all the facts of the case. Only then can we decide whether to grant bail or not," the court said.

Later, the hearing was adjourned till tomorrow (Thursday).

Why was Shahbaz Sharif's release on bail delayed?

On April 13, it was reported that a two-member bench had approved Shahbaz's release on bail, subject to his furnishing two sureties worth Rs5 million each. 

However, when the short order of the court was released on April 14, it bore the signature of only one judge and not the other.

Read more: PML-N concerned over delay in Shahbaz Sharif’s release despite court order 4 days ago

The court order, according to Geo News, had been signed by Justice Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar, but not by Justice Asjad Gharal — the two judges on the bench. 

Owing to the absence of one signature, the bail bonds could therefore not be accepted. 

A dissenting note from Justice Gharal later came to the fore, clarifying the fact that there had been no clear decision on the matter.