LHC orders shifting of imprisoned PML-N leader to hospital

RAWALPINDI: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to shift ailing Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi from jail to Sheikh Zayed Hospital for medical treatment, ARY News reported.

Headed by Justice Aalia Neelum, a division bench of the high court gave this direction on a request by the incarcerated PML-N leader who according to his counsel is suffering from heart and renal diseases.

“This is a matter of human health. Such harsh behaviour should not be adopted,” the bench remarked, censuring the government lawyer for suggesting that Abbasi’s medical reports be summoned to ascertain the truth instead of shifting him to a hospital.

The hearing was adjourned till April 11.

In the previous hearing, the appellant’s lawyer had contended before the judges that Abbasi was suffering from four different diseases, adding he also suffered a cardiac arrest inside the jail. He argued seven other accused named in the case had been freed by the trial while his client was awarded life term.

The lawyer pleaded to the high court to suspend his client’s sentence and order his release on bail.

Last year in July, Abbasi was arrested from the court premises soon after the CNS Court of Rawalpindi Judge Sardar Akram awarded him life imprisonment. The judge, however, acquitted seven other accused owing to lack of evidence.

ANF had registered a case against Abbasi and his accomplices in June 2012 under sections 9-C, 14 and 15 of the Control of Narcotics Substances (CNS) Act for misuse of 500kg of ephedrine.