NAB opposes Hamza Shehbaz’s acquittal in Ramzan Sugar Mills case

NAB tells court corruption cases complex, hence case should be looked into as a whole and plea for acquittal be dismissed

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday opposed acquittal of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) central leader and Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz in Ramzan Sugar Mills case, pleading that it was not maintainable and should be dismissed.

Accountability Court Number 5 Judge Muhammad Sajid Ali took up the reference against Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza Shehbaz and others in Ramzan Sugar Mills case.

As the hearing commenced, PML-N President and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif appeared before the court along with other suspects in Ramaza Sugar Mills, Money laundering and Ashiana Housing scheme.

During the proceedings, PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz did not turn up before the court and submitted an application through his counsel that he was not feeling well. He said that he had back-pain and therefore he should be exempted from personal appearance before the court. The court accepted his plea for exemption from personal appearance in the case.

However, the anti-graft body opposed the acquittal application of Hamza Shehbaz, which he had already moved to the court, saying that he [Hamza Shehbaz] misused his power and authority.

The NAB prosecutor said that the case against Hamza should be looked into as a whole, pleading that the corruption cases fell under the ambit of white-collar crimes and such cases were complex. The prosecutor asked the court to reject Hamza Shehbaz’s plea for acquittal.

The prosecutor also opposed the acquittal plea of Imtiaz Haider and Bilal Kidwai in Ashiyana Housing Scheme case. Both suspects were the co-accused.

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, former DG LDA Ahad Cheema and other accused appeared before the court and marked their attendance. However, former bureaucrat Fawad Hassan Fawad, who had already availed exemption from personal appearance in the case was not there. In Ashiyana Housing scheme case, at least 10 out of 13 suspects had already been indicted.

The court adjourned further hearing till January 10 and sought arguments from both sides.

NAB in its reference, which comprised three volumes, had held Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza Shehbaz, Ahad Cheema, Fawad Hasan Fawad, and others responsible for misusing power and authority and causing huge loss to the national exchequer.

Three accused including Kamran Kiyani, Nadeem Zia and Khalid Hussain had been declared proclaimed offenders after they failed to appear in the court.

The NAB had accused Shahbaz Sharif of misusing his authority, which allegedly resulted in failure of the project, depriving 61,000 applicants of housing units. The NAB alleged that Shahbaz Sharif, in connivance with former DG LDA Ahad Cheema, awarded the contract to a proxy.