Islamabad: A two-member bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday turned down former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s plea for bail on medical grounds and held there was no immediate threat to the petitioner’s life due to poor health.

The much-anticipated order that was reserved earlier on February 20 was announced in a crowded courtroom of the IHC as a large number of the senior leaders and workers of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had come to hear it.

Nawaz Sharif is serving a seven-year jail term and Rs1.5 billion (Dh39.46 million) fine in Al-Azizia Reference. An accountability court of Islamabad had found him guilty in the reference last year on Dec 24, 2018.

The court however had released him in flagship reference.

Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani in the brief order declared that the case was not of an extraordinary nature and the petitioner had medical facilities available to him.

While referring to former Information Minister of Sindh Sharjeel Memon’s case the court held that a convict cannot be released on medical grounds.

In its 9-page order, the bench has held that the court has the jurisdiction to suspend a sentence or to release a prisoner on bail (whether under trial or convicted) under Article 199 of the Constitution, the order says: “However, such jurisdiction is to be exercised sparingly, in extraordinary circumstances and in cases of extreme hardship.”

Earlier, Nawaz Sharif’s lead counsel Khawaja Haris Advocate had told the court that his client was unwell and all reports had suggested for him to have an angiography. He said the matter had become very sensitive.

Haris had argued that Nawaz was suffering from different diseases and it’s happening because of tense atmosphere in jail.

Outside the courtroom, while talking to media, senior leaders of the PML-N including former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former Defence Minister Khwaja Mohammad Asif and ex-Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb expressed their disappointment over the court’s decision.

“We accept and respect the order, but we will use all the legal options available including challenging the verdict,” said Abbasi. “All options are available and we shall use our legal right to do so,” he said.

“The medical boards have recommended that the PML-N supremo needs urgent cardiac treatment and this is not possible in jail that’s why we have sought bail,” he added.

Khwaja Asif said under the present circumstances, Mian Nawaz Sharif’s treatment was not possible. His health is deteriorating and seeing his condition a petition was filed in the IHC that was however, not entertained, he said.

Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif who is presently admitted at Jinnah Hospital in Lahore was conveyed the court’s order. His younger brother and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif was with him. After the decision was announced the PML-N workers staged a protest demonstration outside the hospital and chanted anti-government slogans.

On September 8, 2017, National Accountability Court (NAB) had filed references against Nawaz Sharif and his children Maryam Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz and Hasan Nawaz in Al Azizia, Flagship and Avenfield references. On October 19, 2017 he was charged in Al Azizia and on October 20 in Flagship references. In July 2018, Accountability Court had convicted Nawaz Sharif to 10-year, Maryam to 7-year and her husband Capt Safdar to one-year jail in Avenfieled Reference.