An accountability court in Lahore has granted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif permanent exemption from appearance in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case.
In 2019, the National Accountability Bureau had filed a case against Shehbaz and his son Hamza Shehbaz for causing a Rs213 million loss to the national exchequer.
During the hearing of the case today, Shehbaz and Hamza filed a request to skip court proceedings in light of their busy schedules.
Shehbaz said that due to his commitment to the nation as prime minister, he has applied for exemption from attendance to fulfill his national responsibilities.
"I have never filed an unwarranted attendance apology. I also have to meet the IMF delegation, and other international delegations; however, if the court rejects my request for exemption from attendance, I will appear again," the PM maintained.
Shehbaz's counsel Amjad Pervez informed the judge that the court has already granted his client permanent exemption from attending hearings in another case, claiming that his client has "never misused" it.
NAB's counsel Asad Malik, however, opposed the application, saying that medical certificates or other necessary documents are not attached, and added that there has been no progress in the case for the last six months and if the court accepts the application, it would affect the trial.
Subsequently, the court approved Shehbaz's request for exemption from permanent attendance and adjourned further hearing of the case till July 5.
In 2019, the National Accountability Bureau had filed a case against Shehbaz and his son Hamza Shehbaz for causing a Rs213 million loss to the national exchequer.
During the hearing of the case today, Shehbaz and Hamza filed a request to skip court proceedings in light of their busy schedules.
Shehbaz said that due to his commitment to the nation as prime minister, he has applied for exemption from attendance to fulfill his national responsibilities.
"I have never filed an unwarranted attendance apology. I also have to meet the IMF delegation, and other international delegations; however, if the court rejects my request for exemption from attendance, I will appear again," the PM maintained.
Shehbaz's counsel Amjad Pervez informed the judge that the court has already granted his client permanent exemption from attending hearings in another case, claiming that his client has "never misused" it.
NAB's counsel Asad Malik, however, opposed the application, saying that medical certificates or other necessary documents are not attached, and added that there has been no progress in the case for the last six months and if the court accepts the application, it would affect the trial.
Subsequently, the court approved Shehbaz's request for exemption from permanent attendance and adjourned further hearing of the case till July 5.