An Islamabad accountability court has officially granted bail to PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif in the Toshakhana case. Today is a busy day for Nawaz, as he is also scheduled to appear before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for protective bail in the Al-Azizia and Avenfield references, for which he has already been convicted. There is also an expectation that his appeal for the restoration of his appeals against his conviction will be heard today.
The accountability court had previously suspended the perpetual arrest warrants issued for Nawaz in the Toshakhana case on October 19, 2020. The case alleges that Nawaz, former president Asif Ali Zardari, and ex-prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani received luxury vehicles and gifts from the Toshakhana department. This department stores gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, and officials by heads of other governments, states, and foreign dignitaries.
In June 2020, an accountability court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Nawaz in this case. However, Nawaz later withdrew his petition challenging the warrants in the Islamabad High Court. On September 10, 2020, he was declared a proclaimed offender in the case, and the court initiated the process to confiscate his properties, directing the NAB to make his arrest through Interpol.
Today, special security was provided to Nawaz by the Islamabad police as he made his way to court, with a large number of PML-N supporters gathered to show their support. PML-N leaders Shehbaz Sharif, Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif, Ayaz Sadiq, and Saad Rafique were also present for the court hearing, presided over by Judge Muhammad Bashir.
The court first directed to mark Nawaz’s attendance at the beginning of the hearing. However, the hearing was disrupted by commotion, leading the court to ask Nawaz to leave the courtroom. When the hearing resumed, the NAB prosecutor argued that Nawaz had surrendered, therefore, his arrest warrants should be cancelled in order for the trial to move forward. The court subsequently confirmed Nawaz’s bail in the Toshakhana case with surety bonds of Rs1 million. The case’s further hearing has been adjourned until November 20. The court also issued notices to the NAB on Nawaz’s plea against the confiscation of his property and requested arguments on this matter for the next hearing.