LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) for the cancellation of bail granted to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz in a graft case.
In November 2019, the high court granted post-arrest bail to Maryam in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) reference but directed her to surrender her passport as the prosecution feared she might flee the country.
In the petition, the anti-corruption watchdog argued that Maryam has taken “undue benefit” of her bail and is not cooperating with the agency for its probe into her assets despite being offered a reprieve.
The agency informed the court Maryam was summoned to submit documents in relation to the case on January 10 last year but she did not submit the required documents.
It said it again directed her to appear in-person on August 11. Accompanying her were her supporters and PML-N activists who attacked the NAB offices. Following the violent episode, the hearing was postponed.
A separate case was registered against Maryam for “attacking” the offices, it informed the court.
The PML-N vice president, by not appearing for the probe, was obstructing the investigation.
Since securing the bail, Maryam has been attacking state institutions in her speeches, it said, adding she was issuing statements against state institutions through electronic and social media platforms.
“Maryam Nawaz is doing propaganda against state institutions,” the petition said, arguing “through her tactics,” Maryam is giving the public an impression that state institutions have failed in discharging their responsibilities.
“Maryam Nawaz is making deliberate statements to tarnish the image of state institutions,” it claimed.
NAB has nominated Maryam Nawaz and the Ministry of Interior as respondents in the petition, urging the court to cancel the bail.
The petition has been fixed for hearing on March 15 and will be heard by a two-member bench presided over by Justice Sarfaraz Dogar.
REACTION OF PML-N LEADERS:
Meanwhile, PML-N leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Marriyum Aurangzeb reacted on the move and said the petition is an attempt by the NAB to “muzzle” Maryam.
Abbasi said that the law is present and any aggrieved government or institution can initiate proceedings against Maryam, adding that the NAB is doing politics in the country. “It was the right of a citizen to talk on matters of national concern,” said Abbasi.
He said that neither the government nor any institution had raised any concerns regarding Maryam while the NAB chairman was the only one seemingly aggrieved. “The real face of the NAB has come out in front of the people of the country as it is not an institution for accountability,” he further said.
Abbasi added that he expects the court will not only dispose of the petition but also impose a fine to NAB for wasting the court’s time and harassing a citizen of the country.
THE CASE:
NAB suspects Maryam of involvement in money laundering through investments of variable heavy amounts being the main shareholder of the CSM. It has alleged that she was involved in money laundering with the help of some foreigners during the period of 1992-93 when her father Nawaz Sharif was the prime minister.
The agency informed the court that the PML-N vice president had not been able to give satisfactory answers to its inquiries regarding her shares in the mills. She was also unable to explain how she attained the funds to establish Shamim Sugar Mills, it said.
It further said that Maryam had not filed her tax returns for many years and was suspected of being in possession of assets beyond known means.
