Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza acquitted in Ramzan Sugar Mills case

The Accountability Court of Lahore has acquitted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case. The decision regarding the former Chief Ministers of Punjab was announced by Accountability Court Judge Sardar Mohammad Iqbal Dogar, which had been reserved three days ago.

According to media reports, the court acquitted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case, declaring the claims filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on February 18, 2019, to be false. The allegations were that Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Sharif embezzled millions from the national treasury for the Ramzan Sugar Mills.

In the case, NAB had accused Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Sharif of abusing their positions, granting approval for the construction of a sewage drain for the project. However, the defense lawyer of Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Sharif, Amjad Pervez, argued that the approval for the construction of the drain was granted by the provincial cabinet. It had already been claimed that the case against Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Sharif was politically motivated.

The lawyer stated that the construction of the drain benefited not only Ramzan Sugar Mills but also the villages in the area. On January 28, the complainant of the case, Zulfiqar Ali, expressed disassociation from the Ramzan Sugar Mills reference, which weakened the case. The decision of the case was made three days ago on February 3, and after being reserved, it was announced today.