Nawaz Sharif returns to Lahore jail after rare bail on medical grounds expires

LAHORE – Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif returned to prison with hundreds of his supporters following the expiry of his six-week bail in a corruption case on Tuesday.

Police in Punjab capital earlier reached his palace-like residence in Lahore's Jati Umra to arrest the Pakistan Muslim League-N's supremo.

Sharif's daughter, Maryam Nawaz led a rally of PML-N supporters to show solidarity with the convicted politician and sharing videos about how the city dwellers came out on streets to catch a glimpse of the supreme leader of former ruling party.

https://twitter.com/MaryamNSharif/status/1125822593188208640

Sharif was expected to surrender to the jail authorities after Iftar but he failed to surrender in the given time.

The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader has been serving a seven-year prison term at Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail since December 24, 2018 when an accountability court convicted him in the Al Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference.

The case was filed in the wake of the Supreme Court's July 28, 2017 order in the Panama Papers case.

The apex court on Friday had rejected a petition by Sharif for an extension of the bail granted to him on March 26 for six weeks on medical grounds.

Sharif will arrive at the prison in a rally led by his daughter and PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz. She is leading the "solidarity march" of party workers from the Sharif's residence in Jati Umra to the jail, party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said.

The Home Department Punjab earlier instructed the three-time Prime Minister to reach the jail by 5 pm on Tuesday and said his arrival in a procession would be against the law.

Protesting against the instructions, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said that Sharif's bail is valid till the midnight of May 7.