Court indicts Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza Shehbaz in Ramzan Sugar Mills case

An Accountability Court on Thursday indicted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz in the Ramzan Sugar Mills reference.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them. 

After the charges were read out, Shehbaz told the court that he might have sinned but he never left any stone unturned for the service of the people of the country.

"I have served the people of Punjab for 10 years. [The] prosecution might think whatever they want but they also know the truth in their hearts," he told the court.

The opposition leader went on to say that he used to make many official visits for the welfare of the people but never took allowances or petrol for his car for the same.

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"I have launched projects worth trillions of rupees for the development and welfare of the people and have brought in trillions of rupees investment for the economic stability of our country," he added.

Maintaining that he saved Rs100 billion in the Lahore Orange Line train project, that was initiated by the PML-N during its tenure, the former Punjab chief minister asked why he is being accused of building a sewer illegally, that too at a cost of a 'mere' Rs2 billion.

The court, adjourning the case, sought arguments from lawyers at the next hearing on August 27. 

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in February last year had filed a reference against the two alleging that the former chief minister of Punjab had misused his authority by using public funds for the construction of a bridge to facilitate the Ramzan mills, owned by his sons.