A two-judge IHC bench on Thursday granted protective bail to PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia references directing the law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) not to arrest the PML-N supremo until Oct 24. 

Nawaz Sharif’s lawyers Amjad Pervez and Azam Nazeer Tarar appeared before court whereas NAB prosecutors Rafey Maqsood and Afzal Qureshi advanced arguments in the case.  

Sharif’s counsel Tarar said the PML-N leader was declared proclaimed offender by a trial court, but now his warrants had been suspended by the court.  

The IHC chief justice asked, “Are you in possession of the said order?” Tarar said the order had been issued and his colleagues were on way to court to submit it.  

Later, the court granted the former prime minister protective bail and barred the authorities from arresting him in any of the two cases untill Oct 24. 

Wednesday’s proceedings 

A day earlier (Wednesday), the IHC bench had issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on two petitions filed by PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif, seeking protective bail in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases. 

Nawaz will return to Pakistan on Saturday. He was convicted in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia references and declared a proclaimed offender in the Toshakhana vehicles case pending with an accountability court in Islamabad. The court adjourned the case till Thursday. 

The bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb took up Nawaz’s pleas which were filed earlier on Wednesday.

The PML-N leader’s lawyer, Amjad Pervez, told the court that his client was seeking protective bail.

Referring to previous judgements, he said that in the past, absconders were granted protective bail in order to surrender before the court. “The court provides an opportunity whenever someone wants to surrender before it,” he said. He said his client had not taken undue advantage of his bail.

The judges heard the arguments and djourned the case for a day.

The IHC chief justice had formed the bench after the PML-N filed protective bail petitions to restrain the authorities from arresting party supremo Nawaz Sharif on his return on Oct 21.

The three-time prime minister was declared a proclaimed offender by the IHC in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases for his failure to comply. Sharif went to London for medical treatment with court’s permission in November 2019.

He had been convicted in both the cases by an accountability court. He was sentenced to seven years in jail in Al-Azizia reference and barred from holding public office for 10 years.

In the Avenfield reference, Nawaz Sharif was jailed for 10 years with 8 million pounds fine.
It may be recalled that a division bench had rejected Nawaz’s appeals in June 2021 for failing to appear before the court as he was in London.

The bench comprising Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani heard the appeals.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui’s claim

The Muslim League-N Senator, Irfan Siddiqui, a day earlier claimed that Nawaz Sharif would diligently meet all legal obligations upon his return.

In a tweet, Senator Irfan Siddiqui urged those making negative assumptions to exercise tolerance, stressing that Nawaz Sharif had made numerous appearances before the JIT and in courts . He said Nawaz consistently adhered to the law and there was no room for doubt.

Furthermore, Senator Siddiqui expressed trust that Nawaz Sharif, with the grace of God, was on his way back home, reaffirming his pledge to uphold the principles of the law, both now and in the future.