NAB challenges Shehbaz’s exemption from court

LHC issues notice to PML-N president for March 24

LAHORE: The country’s top accountability watchdog on Tuesday moved the Lahore High Court against PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif’s “permanent exemption” from appearing for the trial in Ashiana housing scheme and Ramzan Sugar Mills references against him.

An LHC division bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi issued notices to Shehbaz, who is in London accompanying his ailing brother former premier Nawaz Sharif, and other respondents in the references for March 24 on the plea filed by NAB.

As the proceedings commenced, NAB prosecutor Sayed Faisal Bukhari told the bench that the trial court had recently accepted the PML-N president’s application seeking permanent exemption on the grounds that he was abroad.

“Is the trial court facing any difficulty because of the absence of the accused,” Justice Najafi asked.

The NAB prosecutor responded that trial court had granted him permanent exemption in violation of the law.

After the trial court’s order was read aloud, Justice Najafi observed that exemption was temporary.

The NAB prosecutor argued that no substantial reasons were mentioned for granting the exemption.

He asked the court to set aside the order and direct Shehbaz to appear for the trial.