An accountability court in Lahore has taken notice of the absence of Hamza Shehbaz in the hearing of Ramzan Sugar Mills case today (Saturday) and sought written response from the jail officials.
Judge Amjad Nazir Chaudhry conducted the hearing of Ramzan Sugar Mills corruption reference against Hamza Shehbaz.
A judicial officer apprised the AC that the accused rejected to travel by bullet-proof van to appear in the hearing.
He said that a bullet-proof vehicle is present inside the jail, however, Hamza is not coming out of his prison cell.
He added that the warrants against the PML-N leader were presented in the court.
However, the court took notice of Hamza Shehbaz’s absence in the hearing and ordered the jail officials to submit a written response to clarify the reasons for not producing him.
Judge Amjad Nazir Chaudhry also directed the NAB to produce its witnesses in the next hearing.
He also asked authorities to modify the date on the warrants of Hamza.
Furthermore, the accountability court adjourned the hearing till November 10.
Ramzan Sugar Mills case
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed a reference accusing former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif, his son Hamza Shehbaz and others for causing losses to the national exchequer and misusing authority by sanctioning construction of a bridge to facilitate the sugar mills.
NAB officials say, Shehbaz Sharif misused his authority by issuing directives for the construction of a 10-kilometre-long drain in Chiniot primarily to benefit the sugar mill owned by his sons.
Shehbaz and Hamza have been accused of fraudulently causing a Rs 213 million loss to the national exchequer.
