Daily Times

An accountability court in Lahore on Wednesday extended the remand of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz by eight days in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, a private TV channel reported.

Maryam appeared before the accountability court in connection with the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case along with her cousin Yousaf Abbas, who is also accused in the case.

During the hearing, National Accountability Bureau’s prosecutor (NAB) told the court that other members of the Sharif family including Nawaz Sharif, Kulsoom Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz are part of the Chaudhry Sugar Mills board of directors. “Maryam Nawaz was chief executive in 1992,” the prosecutor told the court. “Loans from different companies were taken by Chaudhry Sugar Mills. We have contacted the State Bank for the records,” he said, and requested for an extension in the remand.

Maryam’s lawyer told the court that the investigation report is contrary to the truth. “In 1992, all the properties were under Nawaz Sharif’s name. From 1992 to 1999, Sharif transferred the properties under the children’s name,” he said, adding that Maryam Nawaz has been arrested on political grounds.The court after hearing the arguments approved NAB’s request and extended Maryam’s remand by eight days.

Speaking to reporters in the court, Maryam Nawaz rejected the NAB investigation report that was presented before the accountability court, saying that the anti-corruption watchdog had not questioned her about ‘a single rupee’s corruption’. “In the past 42 days, I was not questioned about corruption of a single rupee. They keep asking why my grandfather transferred his business to me.

I have told them a 100 times that a person will transfer shares of his property to his own children, not his neighbours,” she said, and questioned why NAB had arrested her if they did not have relevant documents. “How can a person submit documents while they are under arrest?” she asked. “I was arrested for political reasons because I was holding rallies,” she added.

While speaking to media, Abbas complained that they have been eating food provided by the jail, even though the rest of the prisoners are allowed to have home-cooked meals. “This represents [NAB’s] small-mindedness,” he said. Maryam added, “If they think I will make any requests, they are mistaken.”