LHC orders return of Maryam's surety

The Lahore High Court (LHC) directed the return of Rs70 million deposited by Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz as surety in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) case after the anti-corruption watchdog withdrew proceedings in the matter.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum heard the petition seeking the release of the amount.

During the hearing, NAB's counsel submitted an affidavit confirming the withdrawal of the constitutional proceedings. Following the submission, the court approved Maryam's plea and ordered the return of the Rs70 million deposited in the high court as guarantee money in the case.

According to the petition, the amount had been deposited as surety during proceedings related to the sugar mills reference. The petitioner argued that since NAB had already closed the case, the deposited amount should be released.

Speaking to the media after the hearing, Maryam's counsel Javed Arshad said the court had accepted the petition and that Captain (retd) Safdar Awan would receive the amount once the written order was issued. He added that the application was filed after NAB formally ended proceedings against Maryam in the case.

It is worth mentioning that a week back, a LHC division bench disposed of a NAB petition seeking cancellation of bail of Maryam in the CSM case. During proceedings, a prosecutor informed the bench that the chief minister had been acquitted in the case, due to which the petition seeking cancellation of her bail stood infructuous.

However, the bench, allowing the submissions of the NAB, disposed of the petition as being infructuous.

It is also pertinent to mention that the LHC on Nov 4, 2019, had released Maryam in the sugar mills case on bail, subject to surrendering her passport to the court. She was also ordered to deposit Rs70 million with the registrar judicial.

Later, a LHC full bench on Oct 3, 2022, returned the passport to the chief minister after the NAB said it did not require the travel document anymore.

A NAB team had arrested CM Maryam on Aug 8, 2019, when she was present at the Kot Lakhpat jail on her weekly visit to her incarcerated father, Nawaz Sharif, along with her daughter and other relatives.