LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday extended bail of Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif till July 16 in assets beyond means reference and allowed him one-time exemption from personal appearance.

Earlier Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem heading a division bench, asked the counsel of Shehbaz Sharif about the absence of his client even after his Covid-19 test report came negative.

Advocate Amjad Pervez, replied that as per medical experts a patient of coronavirus could be declared fully recovered only after two consecutive negative reports and added that the petitioner was not fully recovered.

The counsel asked the bench to adjourned hearing for three weeks. Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem reminded the counsel that he had also sought three-week adjournment on previous hearing and now he was making the same request. He noted that the NAB had already given its consent for permanent exemption to the petitioner if the court decided to hear arguments on bail petition.

Azam Nazir Tarar, a senior counsel of Shehbaz Sharif, said he would have concluded the arguments on last hearing if he could predict that the court will confirm the bail. He said some powers wanted to see the petitioner behind the bars.

When Justice Sardar pointed out that Shehbaz Sharif had visited the high court for signing bail bonds few days ago, Azam Nazir Tarar a senior counsel of Shehbaz said the bench should laud the efforts of the petitioner. He said the NAB will not face any irreparable loss if hearing of the bail petition was adjourned for three weeks.

"We are not asking for attendance of the petitioner but the arguments of the counsel," the judge said to the counsel. However, Tarar said at least two-week time should be given, "It would make me confident if I present arguments in the presence of my client," the counsel added. The bench passed the orders accordingly and rose till next hearing.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020