Maryam Nawaz sent to jail on judicial remand in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case

LAHORE: An accountability court in Lahore on Wednesday sent Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice-president Maryam Nawaz and her cousin Yousaf Abbas to jail on judicial remand in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case.

Maryam and Abbas had appeared before the court today after the expiration of their physical remand. 

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had requested a 15-day extension in the remand of the PML-N leader who was arrested along with her cousin last month. 

During today’s hearing, NAB’s investigating officer Hafiz Asadullah said the request for an extension was made on the grounds that there was more time required to investigate the case.

The NAB investigating officer told the court that during the investigation they had found out about an agreement for the division of family assets.

“The shares were divided between Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Abbas Sharif, Kulsoom and Shamim Begum,” he told the court.

Asadullah further said, according to Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan's (SECP) record, in 2008, Chaudhry Sugar Mills shares were valued at Rs26.2 million, however, during the investigation, there was a difference of nearly Rs1 million. 

He added, in 2015, Chaudhry Sugar Mills was shifted from Gojra to Rahim Yar Khan, a move which cost Rs1.5billion. “We still need to assess the revenue spent on shifting Chaudhry Sugar Mills,” he noted.

“Three foreigners sent shares in 2008 to Maryam Nawaz, while shares worth Rs4.8 million were transferred to Yousaf Abbas,” Asadullah added.

The investigative officer said the money was transferred to give benefit to Chaudhry Sugar Mills directors and shareholders.

On the other hand, Maryam’s lawyer Amjad Pervaiz told the court when Chaudhry Sugar Mills was established, his clients were underage.

He added all the documents that NAB had asked for had been handed to them.

The court also asked what Maryam's date of birth was. NAB’s investigative officer said that she was born in 1973 but he did not know the day of her birth.

Maryam added that she was born on October 28, 1973.

The court after hearing arguments from both the sides rejected the accountability watchdog’s request for an extension in the remand and ordered the two be sent to jail on judicial remand.

The court also ordered both the accused to be appear on October 9.