LHC to itself draft undertaking for Nawaz’s travel abroad
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has decided to draft itself an undertaking for the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s travel abroad and give it to both the parties, after the government and the Sharif brothers could not agree upon drafts of each other in this regard.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif had on Saturday submitted written undertaking to the LHC regarding their travel abroad.
While the additional attorney general had dismissed the undertaking submitted by the Pakistan Muslim League-N leaders as the government has decided to prepare its own draft for the undertaking. He said it had no mention of indemnity money.
The court had earlier sought undertaking from the Sharif brothers guaranteeing that they would not slip from London and come back to Pakistan upon completion of the medical treatment.
The draft of the undertaking mentioned that the patient will come back soon after getting healthy and face court trial here. It said that he would return after doctors would declare him fit.
The high court had demanded the undertaking while hearing the petition seeking unconditional removal of Nawaz Sharif’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL). The court asked Shahbaz that what guarantee he could give that Nawaz would return to the country. To which Shahbaz said that God willing Nawaz would come back when he would be healthy. He said he would accompany his brother during the visit to London.
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A two-member bench headed by Justice Ali Baqir Najfi conducted the hearing on the plea.
Before conducting the hearing we want to know answers to some questions, the court had said.
The LHC asked a number of questions including if placing conditions by the government on striking someone’s name off the ECL was legal.
“Will the court verdict be strengthened or not if the conditions are applied after the bail has been granted? Does the government want to review its decision in this regard or not? Will both the parties make some concession in their demands,” the court asked.
Nawaz’s counsel should inform the court after getting instructions from him, if he really wanted to get treatment from London, the court queried.
Counsels of the NAB and federal government as well as Nawaz’s lawyers Amjad Pervez and Ashtar Ausaf were present on this occasion. While, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and other senior party leaders including Ahsan Iqbal, Parvez Rasheed, Amir Muqam, Uzma Bukhari and Ata Tararr were also present in the court during the hearing.
The prosecutor relayed the court that according to reports Nawaz’s health condition was critically unwell. The additional auditor general said the patient could go for treatment abroad if he wished so.
Separately talking to media, Pakistan Muslim League-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said doctors wanted Nawaz to right away be shifted abroad for medical assistance.
“High dose of Steroids and other medicines has increased sugar level. While, swelling and side-effects of medicines have become clearly visible on Nawaz’s body,” she said.
