NAB Lahore completes investigation against Sharifs

Refers matter to HQ in Islamabad

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore has completed investigations into the Ramzan Sugar Mills Case, which would now be referred to the NAB headquarters in Islamabad for appropriate decision.

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif, Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz and his brother Salman Shahbaz are the accused persons in the case.

The decision of completing the investigations was taken into the meeting of the Regional Board of NAB Lahore, chaired by Director General of NAB Lahore Saleem Shahzad. Now, the NAB headquarters would decide whether or not a reference would be filed against the accused.



Shahbaz Sharif was already arrested in the Ashiana-e-Iqbal case. Currently, he is on a judicial remand in the Kot Lakhpat Jail, while his son, Salman Shehbaz had left the country for abroad. During a hearing in the accountability court, NAB served notice for the arrest of Shahbaz in Ramzan Sugar Mill case. But the court sent him on judicial remand.

Shehbaz and his sons are accused of misusing authority for constructing a drain and a bridge, costing Rs200 million to facilitate the sugar mill. Salman and Hamza were chief executive officers of the mill, while Shahbaz was the chief minister, who allegedly issued orders for building of the drain on an emergency basis.

After the arrest of Shahbaz in Ashiana-e-Iqbal housing scheme scam, NAB had initiated an inquiry against him over possessing assets beyond known sources of income. During the investigation, Shahbaz stated that his son, Salman, oversaw his financial matters.

NAB initiated the case of assets beyond income against Salman and constituted an investigation committee. After headway in the investigation, NAB decided to initiate inquiry against Shahbaz for owning assets beyond known sources of income.