Sugar Scam: Pak PM Shehbaz Granted Permanent Exemption From Appearing

Islamabad, June 20: An accountability court in Lahore on Monday accepted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s application for permanent exemption from appearing at hearings in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case, Dawn reported.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed a reference against Shehbaz and his son Hamza Shehbaz in 2019, alleging that they “fraudulently and dishonestly” caused a loss of money to the tune of Rs213 million to the national exchequer.

According to the NAB, when Shehbaz was the Punjab chief minister, he had issued a directive for the construction of a drain in Chiniot district primarily to benefit the sugar mills owned by his sons.

Shehbaz was arrested by the NAB in 2019 in the case but was later granted bail by the Lahore High Court (LHC).

During Monday’s hearing, Judge Sajid Awan accepted Hamza’s application for a one-time exemption from the proceedings.

Shehbaz’s counsel, informed the judge that the accountability court had already granted the premier permanent exemption from attending hearings in another case, claiming that his client had “never misused” it.

He asked for permanent exemption in the present case as well and requested that a pleader be appointed for Shehabz saying that his client had become the prime minister of the country putting enormous responsibilities upon him making it difficult for him to be present in each and every hearing.

For his part, NAB’s counsel, opposed the application stating that medical certificates or other necessary documents had not been attached, arguing that there had been no progress in the case for the last six months and if the court accepted the application, it would adversely affect the trial.

Shehbaz told the court that he had never missed a hearing without a valid reason, assuring the court that he would appear before it whenever he was summoned. Subsequently, the judge accepted the exemption application and adjourned the case till July 5.

 

With UNI Inputs…