Review Petition Filed Against Rejection Of Shehbaz Sharif's Bail Plea

A review petition was filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday, November 3 against a decision to reject Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif's bail plea. The former Punjab chief minister was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) last month for his alleged involvement in the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme case.

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The PML-N chief had denied any wrongdoings and called the allegations as "baseless". Scores of party leaders staged a protest across the country, calling for Sharif's release. According to the petition, the LHC's decision to declare an appeal against Sharif's arrest as non-maintainable is "unlawful", Geo News reported.

"If an investigation is ongoing against someone, they cannot be arrested," the petition said.

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It added, "The arrest of the suspect by the NAB before the inquiry was completed and any crime was proven is against the Constitution. Thus, the court should review its decision, approve the plea and grant bail."

Advocate AK Dogar filed the review petition in which the Pakistan government, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Sharif himself have been made respondents. Most recently, Sharif's transit remand was extended by the Accountability Court till November 6.

Shehbaz Sharif was arrested by the NAB on October 5 for his alleged involvement in the Ashiana Housing Scheme scam, shortly ahead of the Pakistan by-polls. Sharif was arrested on charges of misusing authority and resorting to corruption in the housing scheme, during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Punjab province.