LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) allowed on Saturday former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to travel abroad for medical treatment, without having to sign the indemnity bond suggested by the federal government.
According to the order by a two-member bench, Shehbaz Sharif can accompany his brother abroad for four weeks.
The high court directed the federal government to remove the former premier from the Exit Control List (ECL) without any conditions.
Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem heard the petition challenging the government’s condition of furnishing indemnity bonds to remove Nawaz’s name from the no-fly list.
During the hearing, Justice Najafi remarked that in his opinion, it was not fair for the government to place conditions after the Islamabad High Court had granted bail to the former PM.
After hearing the arguments, the LHC had presented its own draft for the undertaking, and handed it over to lawyers of both sides for review.
While the draft was accepted by PML-N, it was rejected by the government’s legal team.
Earlier, the PML-N president had submitted a written undertaking about the former prime minister’s travel abroad and his return.
It stated: “I undertake to facilitate return of my brother on certification by doctors that he has regained his health and is fit to return to Pakistan.”
Read more: Nawaz’s condition is ‘extremely serious’, SIMS doctor tells LHC
Shehbaz Sharif said the prayers of his mother, the nation and supporters had been granted.
“I am thankful to Allah that court has allowed Nawaz Sharif to travel abroad for medical treatment,” he said, adding that the court had nullified the government’s “Unjust condition of indemnity bonds”.
Nawaz had refused to travel abroad for his medical treatment under the conditions proposed by the government.
He was shifted from Kot Lakhpat jail to the hospital last month after his personal physician Dr Adnan Khan raised an alarm over his deteriorating health.
The PML-N president had then submitted a request to the interior ministry as well as NAB for the removal of Nawaz’s name from the ECL so that the former prime minister could travel abroad for medical treatment.
Nawaz Sharif was granted bail by the LHC whereas his sentence was suspended by the Islamabad High Court for eight weeks on medical grounds.
Finally!!!