The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to clearly state the status of its petition filed before the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) in connection with the Chaudhry Sugar Mills Case involving Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
The directive was issued by a full bench headed by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, along with Justices Muhammad Jawad Zafar and Abher Gul Khan, during the hearing of an application seeking the return of Rs70 million deposited as bail surety.
During the proceedings, the court noted that NAB had previously challenged the LHC’s February 4 order before the FCC. However, the NAB prosecutor indicated that the plea might have been withdrawn. The bench, seeking clarity, instructed NAB to provide a definite and official position on whether the petition is still pending or has been withdrawn.
The hearing has been adjourned until April 23, with the court emphasizing the importance of a clear response before proceeding further.
Background of the Case
The case relates to the Chaudhry Sugar Mills investigation, in which Maryam Nawaz Sharif had been granted bail in 2019 after depositing Rs70 million as surety. Following legal developments, an accountability court accepted NAB’s request to close the investigation and allowed her to reclaim the deposited amount.
Earlier, the LHC had directed NAB to submit a termination report to formally conclude the case, which led to the current proceedings regarding the refund of the surety bond.
Additionally, past court orders included the return of her passport in 2022 after NAB stated it was no longer required.
Key Legal Focus
The current proceedings mainly revolve around whether NAB’s appeal against the LHC’s earlier order is still active before the FCC. The outcome of this clarification will determine the next legal steps regarding the closure of the case and the release of the surety amount.
