NAB directed to approach accountability court to close Chaudhry Sugar Mills reference

LAHORE (Muhammad Ashfaq) – The Lahore High Court on Wednesday directed NAB (National Accountability Bureau) to file a reference within one month before the relevant accountability court to close Chaudhry Sugar Mills reference against Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

A three-member bench issued the order in response to the Maryam’s request for the return of Rs70 million deposited as a guarantee in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills reference.

The bench is headed by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, and includes Justice Jawad Zafar and Justice Abhar Gul Khan.

The counsel for NAB submitted before the court that following the amendments to the NAB law, the Chairman of the bureau had approved the closure of the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case.

Chief Justice Aalia Neelum questioned him whether a new NAB board could reopen the case in the future, to which he replied in the affirmative.

The chief justice remarked that if this were so, the approval granted by the NAB board to close the case would have no legal standing. The court observed that if the guarantee amount were released at this stage, the entire responsibility would fall on the court, whereas NAB should have approached the relevant accountability court to seek closure of the reference.

While disposing of the application, the court ordered NAB to formally file a reference within one month before the relevant accountability court for the closure of the inquiry.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had approached the Lahore High Court seeking the return of the money deposited as a guarantee in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills reference.