LAHORE: An accountability court on Tuesday adjourned hearings of two references against Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shahbaz.

Hamza and other suspects attended the proceedings, however, a one-time exemption from personal appearance was sought on behalf of Shahbaz.

Presiding Judge Sajid Ali allowed an application to this effect filed by the counsel of Shahbaz.

In the reference of Ramzan Sugar Mills, the court directed the counsel of the suspects to conduct cross-examination of the prosecution witnesses at the next hearing on November 26.

The counsel had requested the court that he wanted to cross-examine witnesses in Shahbaz’s presence.

In its reference, NAB alleged that Shahbaz being chief minister of Punjab had issued a directive for the construction of a drain in district Chiniot mainly for the use of Ramzan Sugar Mills owned by his sons. It said Rs200 million were spent for this purpose from the national exchequer.

In another reference of Punjab Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme, court adjourned the hearing till November 26 and sought arguments from the prosecution on acquittal applications of several co-suspects.

Former head of Lahore Development Authority Ahad Khan Cheema, former principal secretary to prime minister Fawad Hassan Fawad are also suspects in the housing scheme reference.

NAB alleged that suspects caused a huge loss to the national exchequer by awarding the contract of the housing scheme to a company without bidding.