ISLAMABAD: A Supreme Court bench hearing National Accountability Bureau (NAB) appeal challenging bail granted to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif and former premier Nawaz Sharif’s principal secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad, dissolved as judge recused himself from hearing the case, a private news channel reported on Thursday.
Justice Yahya Afridi was part of a three-member apex court bench hearing the NAB appeal challenging a Lahore High Court (LHC) decision to grant bail to Shehbaz Sharif and Fawad Hassan Fawad in the Ashiana Housing Scheme case. Justice Afridi said that he is familiar with Fawad Hasan Fawad, therefore, he will not be able to continue hearing the case against him.
Following the development, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Asif Saeed Khosa was moved to form a new bench to hear the case. In today’s hearing Shehbaz’s counsel Ashtar Osaf appeared before the bench, who fainted during the last hearing of the case.
“Are you fit and sound now”, Justice Azmat Saeed Asked from Osaf. “Yes..I’m fine now”, he replied. According to the NAB’s plea, Shehbaz Sharif and Fawad Hassan Fawad are key accused in the case. Bail to the persons must be suspended after nullifying the LHC’s verdict.
On February 14, the Lahore High Court had approved the bail plea of Shehbaz Sharif, ordering his release.
