LAHORE: A top Pakistani court on Friday granted permission to the country’s ailing opposition leader, who has been charged with corruption, to travel abroad for medical treatment.
The Lahore High Court ruled that Shahbaz Sharif may travel abroad from May 8 to July 3. Sharif had petitioned the court, saying he is a cancer survivor who now needs treatment outside of Pakistan.
The development drew criticism from Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government, which said it will explore legal options to stop Sharif from leaving.
Sharif faces corruption charges in three separate court cases. He heads the opposition bloc in parliament and leads his brother’s Pakistan Muslim League party after Nawaz Sharif, a three-time prime minister was disqualified from office.
The ex-premier and elder Sharif, convicted of corruption, lives in exile in London. He was released from prison in 2019 on bail to seek medical treatment abroad but never returned home. Islamabad last December started the process to reach an extradition treaty with Britain that would pave the way for the UK to hand over Nawaz Sharif.
Shahbaz Sharif was released on bail last month on a court order, about seven months after he was arrested by an anti-graft body over alleged involvement in money laundering.
Angered over Friday’s order, Pakistan’s Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry described the ruling as a “joke” that he said could help the younger Sharif escape the law like his brother did.
There was no immediate comment from Khan, who on Friday left on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia to boost economic ties with the kingdom.
Pakistan allows indicted opposition leader to travel abroad
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Pakistan allows indicted opposition leader to travel abroad
- The country’s information minister described the ruling as a ‘joke,’ saying it could help Shahbaz Sharif escape the law like his brother did
- Shahbaz Sharif was released on bail last month on a court order, about seven months after he was arrested by an anti-graft body
Putin calls Russia’s ties with Pakistan ‘mutually beneficial’
- The Russian President mentions the ties as Pakistan’s new envoy presents his credentials in Moscow
- Pakistan and Russia have strengthened relations in recent years, expanding cooperation in key sectors
ISLAMABAD: Russian President Vladimir Putin has described relations with Pakistan as “mutually beneficial,” according to a social media post by his country’s embassy in Pakistan on Friday, as he met newly appointed Pakistani ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi during a credentials ceremony in Moscow.
Pakistan and Russia have steadily strengthened bilateral ties in recent years while working to further expand cooperation in trade, investment, energy and connectivity.
“We maintain close cooperation with Pakistan, a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the largest regional organization in terms of economic, technological, and human potential,” Putin was quoted as saying in a post on X. “Russia
Pakistan relations are genuinely mutually beneficial.”
In recent years, Pakistan and Russia have pledged to deepen economic ties, explore barter trade and energy deals, and boost people-to-people contacts. High-level visits have also taken place between officials of both countries, highlighting interest in expanding cooperation in technology, agriculture and transport.
Last December, Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Russia and Pakistan were in talks on a potential oil-sector agreement.
Earlier, in May, Pakistan and Russia agreed to establish a steel mill in Karachi, aiming to boost bilateral ties and expand industrial collaboration.
The two countries are also working on the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline, a major infrastructure project aimed at transporting imported gas from Karachi to Punjab to help meet Pakistan’s energy needs.
In 2023, Pakistan and Russia also discussed a deal for the delivery of Russian crude to Pakistan, and talks have continued on broader energy partnerships.
