Daily Times

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday expressed anger over failure of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to submit its reply in the court and seeking more time on bail petition of former chief minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The court directed the anti-corruption watchdog to submit its reply on bail petition of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president by February 06. The bench also said that the case will be heard on day-to-day basis.

In his petition, Shehbaz Sharif has sought bail in Ashiana Housing and Ramzan Sugar Mills cases against him.

During the hearing on Tuesday, the bench expressed anger over NAB’s failure to submit its reply in the court and instead seeking more time. The bench remarked that the NAB won’t be allowed another extension if it again fails to submit its reply.

The court allowed the defence lawyer to present his arguments, who then presented his initial arguments before the court. The court asked the lawyer that it has been alleged in the case that the Paragon housing scheme was given benefit. “Who is owner of Paragon,” the bench asked? “Paragon is not owned by my client,” the counsel replied. “It is owned by Nadeem Zia and Shehbaz Sharif is not even acquainted with him,” he added. Shehbaz Sharif is facing inquiries into cases of Ashiana-e-Iqbal and Ramzan Sugar Mills. The NAB had arrested Shehbaz Sharif on October 5 last year under corruption charges in Ashiana scandal.

Published in Daily Times, January 30^th 2019.