LHC orders shifting Hanif Abbasi from jail to hospital

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday ordered to shift Hanif Abbasi, leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) from jail to hospital in view of his deteriorating health, ARY News reported.

A two-member LHC bench headed by Justice Aalia Neelum conducted proceedings of the case.

According to lawyer of Abbasi, the condition of the former minister had aggravated due to cardiac and kidney problem. The PML-N leader has been moved to Sheikh Zayed Hospital.

The government lawyer said the medical reports of Hanif Abbasi should be produced. The court responded that it was a matter of health. “We should not adopt this inflexible approach,” the bench added.

Read: Hanif Abbasi moved to Kot Lakhpat jail from Attock prison

The hearing was then adjourned till April 11.

Hanif Abbasi, in his plea challenging his conviction, said 11 other suspects in the Ephedrine case had been released but he was being subjected to political victimization.

On March 25, a Lahore High Court division bench on Monday gave last opportunity to prosecution for filing reply to an appeal filed by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi against his conviction in ephedrine case.

Abbasi through his appeal had requested the bench to set aside his conviction and order release as the trial court had failed to appreciate facts of the case. He also pleaded for suspension of the sentence and release on bail till final decision of the appeal.

In July 2018, an anti-narcotics court had sentenced Abbasi to life in prison in the ephedrine quota case.