LAHORE: A Lahore High Court division bench on Thursday extended pre-arrest bail of Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif in assets beyond means case till July 23.

It was first appearance of Mr Shahbaz before the court since he recovered from Covid -19 as he skipped several hearings of his bail after he tested positive for the pandemic.

Other leaders of PML-N including MNA Rana Sanaullah Khan, deputy secretary Attaullah Tarar and MNA Shaista Pervez Malik were also present during the hearing. Some party workers had scuffle with the police personnel on the entrance gate of the LHC as they were not allowed to enter the premises.

As the bench comprising Justice Masud Abid Naqvi and Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem resumed hearing of the bail petition, a lawyer stated that senior counsel of the petitioner – Azam Nazir Tarar and Amjad Pervez — were not available due to their engagement before the Supreme Court in Islamabad. He asked the bench to adjourn hearing and extend bail of the petitioner.

At this, NAB Special Prosecutor Faisal Raza Bokhari opposed adjournment request and said that the chief justice of Pakistan had taken suo motu notice on inordinate delay in disposal of the references before accountability courts. He said the bail petition should be decided without delay.

Mr Shahbaz said he appeared before the court in respect of judges and against the advice of his doctors.

He said his opponents had been trying to politicize his illnesses. He said the NAB had admitted on previous hearings that the investigation in the case stood completed. He claimed that seven persons sitting in the NAB office had told him that the investigation had been concluded.

The bench adjourned hearing and extended the bail of Shahbaz till July 23.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2020