Maryam's passport not required, NAB tells court

Maryam's passport not required, NAB tells court

Lahore (Web Desk): The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) that it did not require Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz’s passport that she had surrendered to the court for getting bail in Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSML) case.

A three-member bench headed by LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti was hearing the PML-N leader's petition seeking return of her passport, which she had surrendered before the LHC’s deputy registrar (judicial) after she received post-arrest bail in the case.

The NAB had previously opposed the petition seeking the return of Maryam’s passport, which she had surrendered to the court when post-arrest bail was granted to her in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case.

Earlier this month, the court asked the anti graft body to explain how Maryam ‘aided’ her father Nawaz Sharif in acquiring the Avenfield properties.

During today’s hearing, Maryam’s counsel, Advocate Amjad Pervez, failed to appear before the court, with LHC CJ Bhatti expressing anger over his absence.

Advocate Pervez’s junior lawyer informed the court that he was at another court. “I have informed him. He will be arriving soon,” the junior lawyer told the LHC bench.

Irked by this, Justice Bhatti questioned whether Advocate Pervez did not know which court he was supposed to appear before first.

The court then adjourned the hearing on Maryam’s plea till October 3.

The development comes as Maryam Nawaz moved court, maintaining that she was in dire need to travel abroad to attend to and inquire after her ailing father.