In a statement, Hasan Raza Pasha, the leader of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), raised concerns about the unusual practice of allowing criminals to travel abroad and secure bail upon their return, says in media reports. Speaking on a private TV channel, he questioned whether common criminals should be permitted to leave the country and whether they should be granted protective bail, emphasizing that such a scenario is unprecedented. Pasha pointed to the case of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was granted permission by the Lahore High Court to travel abroad for medical treatment for a period of four months. However, Nawaz Sharif is now required to surrender before the court, as his security bail application has been submitted on his behalf.

Addressing the issue of a cipher-related case involving the loss of a document copy, Pasha asserted that the prosecution must decipher the cipher and present the relevant information. He further stressed that the responsibility for this lies with the foreign secretary. Former leader of the People's Party and Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar expressed disappointment with Nawaz Sharif's return to politics, suggesting that Sharif had gone back on his promise to avoid the politics of the 1990s and had instead made undisclosed deals. On the other hand, Javed Latif, a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, indicated that individuals from the 2018 political landscape were now admitting that they made decisions under duress.

He highlighted the fact that Nawaz Sharif was dismissed for not receiving a salary from his son and alluded to potential hidden aspects of the situation. Latif added that Nawaz Sharif was expected to arrive in Lahore and proceed directly to a public gathering (Jalsa Gah) and assured that they would fulfill all legal requirements. He expressed his belief that Nawaz Sharif was the only one capable of leading the country out of its current crises. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of keeping doors open for everyone except terrorists.

 
Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)