Ramzan Sugar Mills case: AC extends judicial remand of Hamza Shehbaz

LAHORE: An accountability court in Lahore has extended the judicial remand of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz till November 17 in Ramzan Sugar Mills case, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

Judge Amjad Nazir Chaudhry remarked that the accountability court will give a verdict on the reports about non-production of Hamza Shehbaz in the next hearing.

The accountability court’s judge Amjad Nazir Chaudhry heard the Ramzan Sugar Mills reference. Hamza Shehbaz has been produced before the court by the jail officials in today’s hearing.

During the hearing, the judge questioned the reason for not producing Hamza in the previous hearing.

To this, Superintendent Police (SP) Headquarters said that the accused rejected to sit inside the bullet-proof vehicle. The squad staying inside the jail for around two hours, however, Hamza rejected to travel through the vehicle.

The judge remarked that how could it be possible for an under trial person to refuse to appear before the court which should be meant as the failure of the state.

Read: Ramzan Sugar Mills case: Hamza Shehbaz rejects travelling by bullet-proof van

Hamza Shehbaz said that he was appearing before the court for 17 months, but it has never happened earlier. He added that jail officials were informed about his backache, but they deliberately brought a bullet-proof vehicle. Hamza said that he waited for around 2.5 hours, however, the vehicle was not changed. The accused also complained against the jail officials for not providing him timely medical assistance after he contracted coronavirus.

Chaudhry said that political matters should not be discussed when the accused has been granted permission to clarify his position.

Later, the court directed additional secretary home for devising standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the production of prisoners and adjourned the hearing till November 17.

The court also decided to give a verdict on reports submitted by the home secretary, Punjab Prisons Inspector General (IG) and others over non-production of Hamza Shehbaz in the previous hearing.

Read: Officials issued show-cause notice over failing to produce Hamza Shehbaz

Earlier on October 31, the accountability court had taken notice of the absence of Hamza Shehbaz in the hearing of Ramzan Sugar Mills case today and sought written response from the jail officials. The court had ordered the jail officials to submit a written response to clarify the reasons for not producing him.

Ramzan Sugar Mills case

The NAB had filed a reference accusing former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif, his son Hamza Shahbaz and others for causing losses to the national exchequer and misusing authority by sanctioning construction of a bridge to facilitate the sugar mills.

NAB officials say, Shehbaz Sharif, being the chief minister of Punjab, misused his authority by issuing directives for the construction of a 10-kilometre-long drain in Chiniot primarily to benefit the sugar mill owned by his sons. Shehbaz and Hamza have been accused of fraudulently causing a Rs 213 million loss to the national exchequer.