Maryam Nawaz secures pre-arrest bail from LHC ahead of March 26 NAB hearing

• Maryam Nawaz had requested LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan to hold an urgent hearing over summons sent by NAB to her.
• LHC approves bail of PML-N leader against two bonds of Rs1 million each. 
• NAB summons PML-N vice president in relation to two cases on March 26.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) approved on Wednesday protective bail for PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz ahead of a key hearing by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of graft cases pending against her.

The LHC had taken up the PML-N leader's appeal for an urgent hearing on the summons sent by NAB to her. 

The case was heard by a two member bench, comprising Justice Sardar Sarfaraz Dogar and Justice Asjad Javed.

The bench approved the bail of the PML-N leader against two bonds of Rs1 million each.

Earlier, the PML-N leader had appeared before LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan and requested an urgent hearing of her case, which was taken up at 12pm today.

Maryam has been asked to appear before NAB on March 26 in relation to the Chaudhry Sugar Mills and Raiwind land cases.

Maryam's counsel, Azam Nazeer Tarar, stated in the petition that NAB has a "tradition" of arresting people after inviting them to appear before it. 

Maryam, in her petition, further claimed that NAB wants to arrest her due to "pressure" from the government . She added that the watchdog was targeting political opponents over the government's instructions.

Read more: NAB Lahore summons Maryam Nawaz in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case

“[Prime Minister] Imran Khan can arrest the petitioner on March 26 to save his government,” the court was told by Maryam's counsel. 

The petition noted that NAB has summoned Maryam over a case concerning 1,500 kanals of land, adding that she wants to be part of the investigation but fears arrest.

She appealed to the court to approve pre-arrest bail for her in the case.

The court, after seeing the petition, agreed to an urgent hearing of the case and later granted the request. 

'NAB not to be given opportunity to save PM Imran Khan's sinking ship'

Maryam, while speaking to the media after the court hearing, said that her party will not give NAB an opportunity to “save Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sinking ship”.

The PML-N leader said that the PTI government is in "trouble" and called it a “sinking ship”.

Speaking about the case, Maryam said it was “political” and based on “revenge”. She added that she exposed the ruling party by going through the revengeful tactics of the government.

Read more: 'You have no future, no party anymore': Maryam Nawaz warns PM Imran Khan

“[Will not become] an easy prey for them this time. They have their own strategy, we have our own strategy,” said the PML-N leader. She added that she has decided to stop their revenge and face the government.

The PML-N leader also claimed that NAB was being run by everyone but the anti-corruption watchdog.

Maryam Nawaz summoned by NAB

In the call-up notice issued last week, NAB had alleged that 1,500 kanals of land were illegally transferred to Maryam Nawaz in Jati Umra with the help of the bureaucracy.

According to a NAB notification, the Sharif family had acquired 3,500 kanals of land in 2013 and got the master plan of Lahore changed in 2015 in connivance with relevant officials.

Read more: PML-N's Maryam Nawaz questions who gave NAB right to check witness statements

The then-DCO Noorul Ameen and former DG Lahore Development Authority Ahad Cheema have also been nominated in the case.

Maryam Nawaz has been directed to bring all the records regarding the land transaction with her on March 26.

It is pertinent to mention that Maryam Nawaz has also been called to appear before NAB in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case on the same day.

The anti-corruption watchdog had later approached the Lahore High Court for the cancellation of bail given to Maryam in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, but that request was rejected by the court.

Read more: NAB issues fresh summons against Maryam Nawaz in Raiwind land case