LHC approves interim bail of Maryam Nawaz, seeks NAB reply

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has approved the interim bail of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz till April 12 and sought a reply from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), ARY News reported on Wednesday.

A two-member bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) comprising Justice Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Asjad Javaid Ghural heard the bail petition of Maryam Nawaz in the Jati Umra land case.

While giving arguments on the plea, Maryam’s counsel said that NAB could arrest the petitioner after issuing a call-up notice, hence her bail should be approved.

The court granted the interim bail to Maryam Nawaz till April 12 and asked the petitioner to submit two surety bonds worth Rs1 million each. The high court also directed the anti-corruption watchdog to submit its response in the bail petition.

Also Read: PML-N finalises strategy ahead of Maryam’s appearance before NAB

The hearing was adjourned till April 12.

While talking to journalists outside the LHC building, Maryam Nawaz said that the NAB office was declared a red zone for the first time in history which exposed the government’s fear of a helpless woman. She alleged that gunshots fired on the vehicle during her previous appearance in the NAB office and termed it an attempt on her life.

Earlier in the day, PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz moved on Wednesday a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking interim bail to prevent her possible arrest in a graft case.

A two-member bench, headed by Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, will take up the petition later today.

Maryam states in her petition that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned her in two cases on March 26 (Friday). “The bureau being under the influence of the government wants to arrest me,” she claimed.

Also Read: NAB summons Maryam on March 26 in another case

She said she wants to join the bureau’s investigation against her but feared that she would be arrested. The PML-N leader, therefore, pleaded with the high court to grant her interim pre-arrest bail.

The NAB has summoned Maryam for questioning in connection with its ongoing investigations into Raiwind land allotment and the Chaudhry Sugar Mills cases.

According to the corruption watchdog, the Sharif family members allegedly illegally acquired 3,500 kanals of land in Raiwind in collusion with the district administration and revenue officials in 2013.

In 2015, then Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general Ahad Cheema and the Lahore deputy commissioner altered the master plan, declaring hundreds of kanals of land green-land area, the NAB said.