An accountability court in Lahore, on Friday, granted an exemption to ailing former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, from appearing before the court in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills corruption reference.
Reports reveal that the hearing on the case resumed today, during which, the court was approached with two separated applications on behalf of Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, pleading the court to exempt them from their court appearances until the reference has been filed.
مریم نواز شریف کی احتساب عدالت آمد pic.twitter.com/lMdnFTjk4X
— PMLN (@pmln_org) November 22, 2019
Maryam & Nawaz Exempted
The court accepted their pleas for exemption from court appearances. The incarcerated former Prime Minister was provided an exemption for four weeks, while his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, who appeared at the hearing today, has been granted an exemption from court hearings until the reference is filed in court.
Accountability court judge Chaudhry Ameer Mohammad Khan, presiding over the hearing, inquired the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) about the reference in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case. In response, the NAB prosecutor, Hafiz Assadullah Awan, said that the investigation is underway, and a reference will be filed as soon as the investigation concludes.
Read more: NAB gets Maryam Nawaz’s physical remand for 14 more days
With regards to Nawaz Sharif’s application for exemption from court hearings, the judge inquired why the former Prime Minister had failed to appear in court today. In response, Nawaz’s counsel, Advocate Amjad Pervez said that Nawaz had gone abroad for his medical treatment after obtaining an order from the Lahore High Court.
Advocate Pervez added that once his treatment is completed, Nawaz will come back to Pakistan and face the accountability cases filed against him. Responding to both the exemption applications, the NAB prosecutor said that the watchdog will provide a written response.
Maryam won't have to appear till NAB files a reference in the case. Nawaz won't appear for four weekshttps://t.co/eQJVtv3qh0 pic.twitter.com/v5SGDVJMmw
— Samaa News (@SamaaEnglish) November 22, 2019
However, the court rejected the request made by the NAB prosecutor and instructed the bureau to present its arguments on Maryam’s exemption application during the hearing. The prosecutor said that if someone has been granted bail, it is necessary for them to appear in court for the trial hearings.
NAB yet to file Reference
Maryam’s counsel, Advocate Amjad Pervez, urged the court to ensure that the roads are closed every time his client has to appear before the court. Opposing the appeal, the NAB prosecutor said that Maryam is required to appear in court as per the law, and added that the accountability watchdog will provide a written response to the application.
Advocate Pervez said that the NAB has not even filed a supplementary reference in the court, and inquired the need to summon the suspects. He maintained that as per the regulations of criminal law, suspects do not have to appear before the court until a challan is submitted.
Read more: NAB lambasted Maryam Nawaz after Hidden Cellphone was Recovered from her Possession
The court ordered NAB to submit a speedy reference in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills Case, and the proceedings were adjourned until December 6. The court also extended the judicial remand of Maryam’s cousin, Yousaf Abbas, until the next hearing.
Earlier this month, Maryam Nawaz had obtained bail from the Lahore High Court in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills corruption case.
Maryam nawaz in nab court@MaryamNSharif pic.twitter.com/jlVpcvxRtj
— Iqra Khan niazi🎨 (@Iqrabatool00) November 22, 2019
The accountability watchdog suspects Maryam of being involved in money laundering as the major shareholder in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills, she is suspected of investing heavy amounts of money. The NAB alleged that Maryam is involved in money laundering alongside some foreigners during the period 1992-1993 when her father served as the Prime Minister.