The LHC remarked that the sentence was given based on the evidence presented by accused.
Islamabad (Pakistan Point News – 11th April, 2019) The Lahore High Court (LHC) has accepted the bail plea of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi against his conviction in ephedrine case.
A hearing on the bail plea was held in the LHC on Thursday.
The LHC remarked that the sentence was given based on the evidence presented by accused.
The LHC while suspending his sentence, ordered his release.
Abbasi, through his appeal, had requested the bench to set aside his conviction and order release as the trial court had failed to appreciate facts of the case. He had also pleaded for suspension of the sentence and release on bail till final decision of the appeal.
Abbasi was imprisoned for life after being convicted of obtaining a large amount of ephedrine, which is a controlled substance, and then selling it to narcotic smugglers. He was found guilty of selling 500kg ephedrine illegally.
A trial court had sentenced him on July 21, 2018. He was completing the sentence at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail.
The matter was earlier fixed at LHC Rawalpindi Bench earlier but the judges recused themselves from hearing the appeal. LHC chief justice ordered to fix the matter at Principal Seat while allowing an application for the purpose by Abbasi's counsel.
On March 2, Hanif Abbasi was shifted to hospital from Camp Jail to Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) due to cardiac problem.
