Hamza skips appearance before NAB in assets case

LAHORE: Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz on Friday failed to appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore in connection with an inquiry launched against him for allegedly amassing assets beyond known sources of income.

As per details, the PML-N leader was served a subpoena to turn up before a NAB team for questioning, but he failed to do so.

He said he was unable to show up because of the current law and order situation in the provincial capital.

NAB had summoned Hamza Shehbaz and his brother Salman Shehbaz in a case pertaining to alleged possession of assets beyond known sources of income.

Afterwards, Hamza obtained protective bail from the Lahore High Court until November 13 to avoid his possible arrest at the hands of the Bureau.

The PML-N leader is also being probed by the anti-graft watchdog in Ramzan Sugar Mills and Saaf Pani Company Scam. NAB had failed to prove charges of financial irregularities in what he thought were politically motivated cases against him, he stated before the LHC bench in his bail plea.

Earlier on October 30, Hamza Shehbaz and Salman Shehbaz had not appeared before the NAB in Ramzan Sugar Mills case.

NAB had summoned Hamza and Salman, the directors of Ramzan Sugar Mills over illegal construction of a bridge from national exchequer to facilitate their mills, causing the loss of Rs 200 million.

The NAB team kept waiting for them, but the two brothers did not appear before it. Hamza Shehbaz Sharif preferred to attend a party meeting instead of appearing before the NAB, whereas his brother Salman Shehbaz left the country on the same very day.