LAHORE: An accountability court on Saturday adjourned the hearing of Ramzan Sugar Mills reference against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz.

Mr Hamza did not attend the hearing and sought a one-time exemption from personal appearance on account of an official meeting relating to monsoon rains.

An application filed in this regard said the applicant, being the chief minister, was scheduled to chair a high-level meeting and briefing by Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to oversee emergency arrangements for the safety of citizens in view of monsoon rains in the province.

The court allowed the application and adjourned the hearing till Aug 13.

In this reference, PM Shehbaz had already been granted permanent exemption from personal appearance.

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

In another reference of Ashiana-i-Iqbal Housing Scheme, the court allowed an application of PM Shehbaz for one-time exemption from personal appearance and adjourned the hearing till Aug 13. Other accused, including former head of LDA Ahad Cheema, appeared before the court.

The NAB alleged that Shehbaz and other accused persons caused a huge loss to the national exchequer by awarding the contract of Ashiana scheme to a company without bidding.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2022