In a significant development, the accountability court in Lahore has ordered the formal closure of the inquiry involving Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif concerning the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case. This decision came after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) submitted a request to terminate the investigation, which the court accepted during a recent hearing presided over by Judge Rana Arif.
The case, which had drawn considerable public and political attention, focused on alleged irregularities linked to the assets of the Chaudhry Sugar Mills owners, including Maryam Nawaz and Nawaz Sharif. However, after a thorough review, NAB prosecutors informed the court that no concrete evidence of corruption or wrongdoing had been uncovered during the inquiry. This outcome was further influenced by recent amendments to the NAB law, which have limited the bureau’s authority to pursue certain cases, including this one.
During the hearing, both the NAB prosecutor and the legal representatives of the Sharif family presented their arguments. The NAB prosecutor emphasized that the bureau’s jurisdiction had been curtailed due to legislative changes, making it impossible to continue the investigation. Meanwhile, Javed Arshad Bhatti, the counsel for the Sharif family, supported the closure, highlighting the absence of incriminating evidence and the legal constraints now faced by NAB.
In addition to closing the inquiry, the court granted permission for Maryam Nawaz to reclaim the Rs70 million she had previously deposited as bail security in connection with this case. This decision followed her earlier petition to the Lahore High Court, where she requested the return of her surety amount. The high court had ruled that NAB must first seek formal approval from the accountability court to close the inquiry before any bail money could be released. With the inquiry now officially terminated, the trial court has moved forward to facilitate the refund process.
This ruling marks a crucial turning point in the legal proceedings involving the Sharif family and the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case. It also reflects the broader impact of recent legislative reforms on NAB’s investigative powers, which have affected several ongoing inquiries. The closure of this case is likely to have political and legal ramifications, given the prominence of the individuals involved and the public interest in accountability matters.
Meanwhile, this development comes shortly after the acquittal of Nawaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case, further shaping the narrative around high-profile corruption investigations in Pakistan. Observers note that these outcomes may influence future approaches to accountability and legal scrutiny of political figures in the country.
