LAHORE: PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif arrived here late on Friday from Islamabad after he was released from the custody of National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The PML-N workers led by MNA Pervaiz Malik received him at the Lahore airport. The workers chanted slogans in favour of their leadership. Shahbaz Sharif then left for the family’s Raiwind residence to see his mother.

Mr Sharif, the leader of opposition in the National Assembly, got bail in the Ashiyana housing scheme and Ramzan Sugar Mills cases from the Lahore High Court on Thursday. He was in the Ministers’ Enclave Islamabad that was declared a sub-jail for him. Being chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, he was there to attend its meetings as well as NA sessions.

Earlier in the day, an accountability court issued robakar or release order for Shahbaz Sharif after an MNA from his PML-N Rana Mubashir Javed deposited two surety bonds of Rs10 million each in the light of Thursday’s bail grant order by the Lahore High Court.

“He be released forthwith, if not required in any other case/reference,” said the robakar issued by Judge Syed Najamul Hassan Bokhari to the superintendent of Kot Lakhpat jail.

An LHC division bench comprising Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan and Justice Mirza Viqas Rauf had granted bail to Mr Sharif in the two NAB references.

The bench had also granted bail to Fawad Hassan Fawad, former secretary implementation to the chief minister, in the Ashiyana reference. However, it rejected his bail petition in another reference of assets beyond means.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2019