LAHORE: An accountability court on Tuesday recorded the statement of another prosecution witness in Ramzan Sugar Mills reference against Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and his son Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz.

Earlier, Mr Shehbaz requested the court to delay the testimony of the prosecution witness as his lead counsel Amjad Pervaiz was not available due to an appearance before the Lahore High Court.

Presiding Judge Amjad Nazir Chaudhry turned down the request, saying the court was recording the statement of the witness only and his cross examination would be conducted in the presence of the defence counsel. The judge observed that only the suspect was required to be present during the statement of the witness.

The judge assured Shehbaz of complete fairness in the trial proceedings.

During the statement of the prosecution witness, PML-N leader Advocate Tahir Khalil Sindhu objected to the accountability bureau prosecutor for, what he claimed, dictating the witness. They both exchanged harsh words, inviting an intervention by the judge. The judge asked Mr Sindhu whether he wanted the court to shift the trial to the jail.

The judge reminded Mr Shehbaz that Mr Sindhu was not a counsel in the case and had no right to intervene in the proceedings. Addressing the judge, Shehbaz said, “We come here for justice only.”

“Do not worry, you will definitely find justice here,” the judge responded.

The judge adjourned hearing till Feb 24 and directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to produce more witnesses for the testimony. After the proceedings, the officials took Shehbaz and Hamza back to the jail.

Responding to media queries outside the court, Shehbaz said the decision of a preliminary hearing before a court of London on his defamation suit against a journalist of Daily Mail was an honour for Pakistan in fact.

PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal, Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb and other leaders also reached the court to meet the opposition leader.

In its reference, the NAB alleged that Shehbaz being the chief minister had issued a directive for the construction of a drain in Chiniot district primarily for the use of Ramzan Sugar Mills owned by his sons Hamza and Suleman. It said Rs200 million was spent for the purpose from public money.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2021