Shehbaz Sharif summoned on June 13 in Ashiana, Ramzan Sugar Mills cases

LAHORE - An accountability court on Tuesday summoned the opposition leader in National Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif, on June 13 in Ashiana-e-Iqbal housing scheme and Ramzan Sugar Mills cases.

Accountability Court Judge Syed Jawadul Hassan conducted the proceedings wherein a counsel for Shehbaz Sharif submitted that his client would return to Pakistan on June 11, in response to a court query.

However, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) pleaded with the court for dismissal of Shehbaz Sharif's application for exemption in the cases, in its response filed to the plea.

The bureau submitted that medical tests and treatment of Shehbaz Sharif was possible in the country also, whereas the medical treatment was being used as a pretext for exemption from the case proceedings. The court was asked to dismiss the application and issue arrest warrants for Shehbaz Sharif.

However, the court after hearing detailed arguments of the parties rejected the NAB plea and summoned Shehbaz Sharif for June 13.

Hamza Shehbaz also appeared before the court in connection with the Ramzan Sugar Mills case whereas Fawad Hassan Fawad, Ahad Cheema and other accused were also produced in Ashiana case.

It is pertinent to mention that the court was recording statements of the witnesses in both the cases.

Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Hamza Shehbaz, were indicted in Ramzan Sugar Mills case wherein the bureau had alleged that Shehbaz Sharif, as the chief minister Punjab, misused his authority and got constructed a 10-km sludge carrier in district Chiniot to facilitate Ramzan Sugar Mills, which was owned by his sons.

The bureau alleged that the act caused a loss of Rs 213 million to the national exchequer.

Shehbaz Sharif and others were also indicted in Ashiana-e-Iqbal housing case. NAB had accused Shehbaz Sharif of misusing his authority which resulted in failure of the project, depriving 61,000 applicants of housing units. NAB alleged that Shehbaz Sharif, in connivance with former DG LDA

Ahad Cheema, awarded the contract to a proxy.

A Lahore High Court division bench had already granted bail to Shehbaz Sharif in Ashiana and Ramzan Sugar Mills cases.