LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-president Maryam Nawaz in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case on March 26.
The anti-corruption watchdog has reportedly obtained new evidence in the case and will investigate the PML-N leader. Maryam Nawaz has been accused of money laundering worth billions of rupees.
She was previously summoned by the anti-graft body on August 11, 2020 in the illegal land transfer case but the hearing was adjourned after a clash erupted between the PML-N activitsts and police.
Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court (LHC) earlier sought a reply from Maryam Nawaz till April 7 on a NAB plea challenging her bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case.
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar, has asked the PML-N vice president to submit her reply by April 7. Justice Dogar inquired the bureau for its inaction after the registration of an FIR against PML-N leaders for allegedly attacking NAB’s Lahore region office.
READ MORE: LHC seeks Maryam Nawaz’s response on plea challenging her bail
NAB prosecutor claimed that they summoned Maryam Nawaz but she didn’t bother to appear before the bureau. He said the PML-N leader is misusing her bail and not appearing before the bureau. He further said the bail did not imply that the PML-N leader had been acquitted and she has to appear whenever summoned.
The judge asked deputy prosecutor general as to under what grounds did NAB seek the bail’s cancellation. He replied that Maryam had been misusing the concession, launching anti-state propaganda, and supporting the nefarious designs of Pakistan’s enemies. He prayed to the court to cancel the post-arrest bail.
Earlier on Saturday, the anti-graft authority moved LHC seeking the cancellation of bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case. In the petition, it was argued that the PML-N vice president was misusing her bail by attacking state institutions through media.
