Pakistan’s former PM Nawaz Sharif surrenders before court, gets bail in Toshakhana case
Story highlights
In 2020, several arrest warrants were issued against Nawaz on the allegations that he received luxury vehicles and gifts from the Toshakhana — a government department that stores gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats and officials by heads of other governments, states, and foreign dignitaries
Pakistan’s former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who recently came back from London after ending his four-year self-imposed exile, was granted bail by a local court on Tuesday (Oct 24) in connection with corruption cases registered against him.
Sharif appeared before the Islamabad-based Accountability Court of Judge Muhammad Bashir, who had suspended his arrest orders in the Toshakhana case to facilitate his return to Pakistan after four years, reports Dawn newspaper.
In 2020, several arrest warrants were issued against Nawaz on the allegations that he, along with former president Asif Ali Zardari and ex-prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani received luxury vehicles and gifts from the Toshakhana — a department that stores gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats and officials by heads of other governments, states, and foreign dignitaries.
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Nawaz's busy day
Earlier in the day, Nawaz appeared in the court to surrender himself. He was allowed to go after the judge witnessed his presence in the courtroom.
Apart from that, he is also expected to appear before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday (Oct 24) for protective bail in the Al-Azizia and Avenfield references, in which he has been convicted.
The Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference pertains to a case in which Nawaz was sentenced to seven years in jail on Dec 24, 2018. He was also fined Rs 1.5 billion and US$25 million.
His appeal for the restoration of his appeals against his conviction is also expected to be heard in the same day.
Bashir is the same judge who convicted him in the Avenfield case. The court had suspended Sharif's arrest warrant until Tuesday.
Case adjourned for further hearing
The court hearing also saw the attendance of several PML-N leaders Shehbaz Sharif, Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif, Ayaz Sadiq and Saad Rafique.
During the hearing, the prosecutor said that Nawaz had surrendered, therefore, his arrest warrants should be cancelled.
“If the warrants are cancelled then the trial can move forward,” he said.
The court then confirmed Nawaz’s bail in the case against surety bonds of Rs 1 million.
The further hearing of the case was adjourned till November 20.
(With inputs from agencies)
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