lahore [Pakistan]March 17 (ANI): An accountability court on Monday approved closure of the National Accountability Bureau’s probe into the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case involving Maryam Nawaz and her father, former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Dawn reported.
The case related to allegations of money laundering and possession of assets beyond known sources of income through “dubious” businesses linked to Chaudhry Sugar Mills, in which Maryam Nawaz was a major shareholder, Dawn reported.
Accountability Court Judge Rana Arif announced the decision after hearing a plea filed by NAB-Lahore seeking permission to close the investigation, Dawn reported.
According to Dawn, during the previous hearing last week, the court had asked the lawyer representing Maryam Nawaz and Nawaz Sharif to present their arguments on the NAB’s request to end the investigation.
While issuing the order, Justice Arif observed that the office’s decision to close the investigation into the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case was in accordance with legal provisions.
The court also noted that Maryam Nawaz could withdraw the Rs 70 million bail she had submitted while securing post-arrest bail in the case, Dawn reported.
Earlier, both NAB prosecutors and the Punjab chief minister’s legal advisor concluded their arguments before the court on the closure application, Dawn reported.
According to Dawn, in its application, the NAB stated that the Lahore High Court had directed the bureau to file a dismissal report before the accountability court to formally close the investigation, as required by law.
The Lahore high court issued the directive while hearing a petition filed by Maryam Nawaz seeking return of Rs 70 million she had deposited as security for her post-arrest bail in the case, Dawn reported.
According to Dawn, Maryam Nawaz had been arrested by NAB officials on August 8, 2019 in connection with the investigation while she was visiting her father in Kot Lakhpat jail. She had arrived at the prison for her routine weekly meeting with Nawaz Sharif, accompanied by her daughter and cousin Yousaf Abbas.
Later, on November 4, 2019, the Lahore High Court granted bail to Maryam Nawaz in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, ordering her to surrender her passport and deposit Rs 70 million with the court clerk as a condition for her release, Dawn reported.
Later, in October 2022, a full bench of the Lahore High Court returned his passport after the NAB informed the court that he no longer needed the travel document for the investigation. (ANI)
(This content comes from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility for its accuracy, completeness or content.)