LAHORE: An accountability court is likely to indict Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif and his son Hamza next week in the Ramzan Sugar Mills reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

MNAs Sharif and his son appeared before the court on Monday, however, their lead counsel Amjad Pervez was not available due to engagement before the Supreme Court, Islamabad.

An associate of Mr Pervez requested the court to delay distribution of the reference’s copies to the suspects till the next hearing.

Judge Syed Najamul Hassan Bokhari turned down the request and subsequently, NAB prosecutor handed over the copies to both Mr Sharif and his son. Further hearing was adjourned till March 16 when the court would indict them.

Meanwhile, the judge allowed Mr Sharif to leave the court due to bad health and recorded statements of two prosecution witnesses – Israr Saeed and Arif Hameed Butt - in the Ashiana Housing Scheme reference against Mr Sharif, former secretary (implementation) to chief minister Fawad Hassan Fawad, former director general of the Lahore Development Authority Ahad Cheema and others.

Earlier, the judge expressed dismay over jail authorities for producing the suspects late and also issued show cause notices to Kot Lakhpat jail’s superintendent and the superintendent of police headquarters.

The judge also directed NAB to submit a reference against Fawad on charges of assets beyond means. The NAB prosecutor told the court that the reference had been prepared and sent to the chairman for final approval. The judge directed the bureau to submit the reference on March 19 without fail.

KHWAJA BROTHERS: The accountability court on Monday extended judicial remand of former railways minister Khwaja Saad Rafiq and his brother former provincial minister Khwaja Salman Rafiq till March 19 in the Paragon City reference.

In a brief media talk, Saad called investigations by NAB a political victimisation. He said the PML-N was being punished for serving the country.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2019