LAHORE: Deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif who was incarcerated (for seven years) following the conviction in Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference case, has been released at 12.30AM today for six weeks from the Kot Lakhpat Jail here. 

A large number of PML-N workers and supporters who gathered outside the prison accompanied Sharif’s karawan that voyaged from jail and reached his Jati Umra residence at 1.30AM.

On Tuesday (26th of March) Supreme Court of Pakistan had granted bail to Nawaz Sharif on medical grounds suspending his sentence in Al-Azizia Steel Mills case* for six weeks. A three-judge bench led by CJP granted bail to the deposed prime minister enabling him to seek medical treatment within the country. He will not be allowed to leave the country. The bail has been granted against two surety bonds of Rs. 5 million each and as soon as its period is over he will have to surrender himself to jail authorities. Sharif’s advocate had requested for bail for eight weeks. Bail was granted on the following terms:  Nawaz Sharif shall not leave or be allowed to leave the country; Bail will automatically be canceled upon expiry of six weeks from date of release; Sharif will have to surrender custody voluntarily, failing which he will be arrested; He will not be allowed to apply for further bail till he surrenders his custody; He is allowed treatment from medical practitioners and to avail medical facilities of his choice in Pakistan; If during the period of his bail, the IHC rules adversely in the appeal filed by Sharif before the IHC, the IHC will have full authority to decide how and when to arrest him. 

* An anti-corruption court had handed down the 69-year-old Nawaz Sharif the term for failing to disclose the source of his income by means of which he had acquired Al-Azizia Steel Mills in Saudi Arabia.

A relevant piece published earlier: