LAHORE: The prosecution on Wednesday asked an anti-corruption court to frame charges afresh in Ramzan Sugar Mills case against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, his son former chief minister Hamza Shehbaz and others.

Asked whether the suspects should be indicted afresh or if the case should proceed based on the charges previously framed by an accountability court, a prosecutor explained that the laws under the National Accountability Ordinance are different from those under anti-corruption statutes.

He suggested it would be better to frame new charges instead of relying on the proceedings previously held before the accountability court under the NAB laws.

However, Advocate Amjad Pervez, the counsel for PM Shehbaz and Hamza, urged the court to review the merits of the case before framing charges.

The lawyer argued that there was no evidence against PM Shehbaz and Hamza, saying the case did not warrant indictment but was instead a case for acquittal.

He also explained that the case concerns the construction of a drainage canal for the benefit of an entire area using public funds.

The defence lawyer highlighted that acquittal applications of his clients were still pending and requested permission to argue on the pleas first.

He pointed out that five witnesses had already recorded their statements in the accountability court after charges were framed. He said the case was transferred to the anti-corruption court because it falls under its jurisdiction after amendment in the NAB laws.

Judge Sardar Iqbal Dogar noted that the court also needed to examine its jurisdiction in this matter.

The judge adjourned the hearing for further arguments till Dec 16.

On Oct 17, an accountability court transferred the Ramzan Sugar Mills reference to the anti-corruption court due to lack of jurisdiction following amendments introduced in the National Accountability Ordinance 1999.

The NAB, after the amendment, cannot prosecute an alleged offence involving money less than Rs500 million and the offence amount in the mills reference was below the minimum value.

The accountability court was informed that the NAB in its reference made a case of alleged corruption of Rs213 million.

The NAB reference filed in 2018 alleged that PM Shehbaz being chief minister and his son Hamza with the abetment and connivance of each other caused a loss to national exchequer of Rs213 million by committing the offence of misuse of authority.

It said Mr Shehbaz 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.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2024