LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday ordered the return of Rs 70 million to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, which she had deposited as bail surety in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills reference nearly seven years ago.
The directive came during hearings on Maryam’s petition seeking withdrawal of the amount, following the closure of the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) inquiry into the case. NAB’s counsel submitted an affidavit acknowledging the withdrawal of its petition, paving the way for the refund.
Maryam had deposited the sum in November 2019 when the LHC granted her post-arrest bail in the CSM reference. The bail conditions required surrender of her passport and the Rs70m deposit with the court registrar, alongside surety bonds, while NAB pursued allegations of financial irregularities linked to the sugar mill.
In March 2026, an accountability court formally approved NAB’s decision to terminate the inquiry against Maryam and her father, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, citing lack of evidence. The court also noted that the bail surety could be withdrawn.
She subsequently filed a civil miscellaneous application in the LHC, arguing that with the case closed and NAB’s withdrawal, the deposited amount should be refunded. The high court has held multiple hearings on the matter since early 2026, with NAB asked to clarify its position.
On Monday, a 3-judges bench headed by Chief Justice Ms. Alia Neelum concluded that the Rs 70m deposit be returned to Maryam Nawaz, effectively ending the bail surety requirement in the now-closed case.
