Court grants Maryam exemption from appearance in CSM case

Court grants Maryam exemption from appearance in CSM case

Lahore (Web Desk): An accountability court in Lahore on Friday exempted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz and ailing former premier Nawaz Sharif from appearing before the court in Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) case.

During today’s the proceedings, accountability court judge Chaudhry Ameer Mohammad Khan asked what the status of the reference in the CSM case was.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor Hafiz Asadullah Awan told the court that the investigation was underway and as soon as it is completed, a reference will be filed.

Following this, Maryam’s counsel Amjad Pervaiz filed an application to the court to exempt her from appearing before the court till the reference is filed.

The court also approved an application seeking former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s exemption from appearing before the court.

On November 6, the PML-N leader was was released on bail in the CSM case after confirming her surety bonds.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) had granted bail to Maryam in the CSM case against two surety bonds, each worth Rs10 million.

A two-member bench of the court comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem had reserved its verdict in the case on October 31.

The PML-N vice president had filed a petition in the court, seeking post-arrest bail in the CSM case.

Maryam was on judicial remand in an inquiry related to Chaudhry Sugar Mills case.

The PML-N leader was arrested by NAB in August and has been in custody of the accountability watchdog, which accused her of corruption and corrupt practices as defined under section 9(a) of NAO 1999 and schedule thereto and AML Act 2010.