Anti-graft body challenges Maryam Nawaz's bail

The country’s anti-graft body on Saturday moved the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking the cancellation of bail granted to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case.

In a petition filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman, through the Prosecutor General of Punjab, it was argued that Maryam Nawaz is misusing her bail as she refuses to appear before the bureau despite repeated summons.

The anti-corruption body maintained that after her release on bail, she has been attacking state institutions through media and social media, and has continuously made false accusations and is engaged in anti-state propaganda.

Read; NAB to also probe Maryam in Safdar’s assets beyond means case

The plea further stated that several investigations are underway against the PML-N leader but she is not cooperating with the accountability watchdog despite being on bail.

According to the petition, Maryam failed to provide the required documents, after which she was summoned in person on August 11, 2020. However, instead of appearing before the bureau, she used her political power to attack the NAB office.

A separate case has been registered against the PML-N leader in connection with the attack, the petition added.

NAB took the position that Maryam is obstructing the investigation by not appearing, and is using tactics to give the public the impression that state institutions are inactive.

“She is deliberately making statements tarnishing the image of state institutions, and despite being released on bail, she is not cooperating with the NAB investigation, her bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills money laundering case should be cancelled,” the watchdog said in its plea.

Read more: ‘Barring Justice Isa from hearing PM’s cases putting judiciary’s credibility on the line’

LHC fixed Maryam Nawaz's bail cancellation petition for hearing, a two-member bench headed by Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar, will hear the petition on March 15.

The LHC on November 4, 2019, had granted bail to PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz who was arrested in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) case.

The two-member bench of the high court, comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem, had announced the verdict and ordered her to furnish two surety bonds, each worth Rs10 million, and deposit an additional Rs70 million and surrender her passport to secure her release.