Maryam’s lawyer says Captain (r) Safdar Awan will receive the amount once the written order is issued.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. Photo: Archive
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered the return of Rs 70 million deposited by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz as security in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case after the anti-graft watchdog withdrew proceedings in the matter.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum heard the petition seeking release of the amount.
During the hearing, the NAB lawyer submitted an affidavit confirming the withdrawal of the constitutional process. Following the submission, the court approved Maryam’s plea and ordered the return of Rs 70 million deposited in the high court as security money in the case.
According to the petition, the amount would have been deposited as collateral during a process related to the reference sugar mills. The petitioner argued that since the NAB had already closed the case, the deposited amount should be released.
Read more: LHC seeks response from NAB on Maryam Nawaz’s Rs 70 crore refund in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case
Speaking to the media after the hearing, Maryam’s lawyer Javed Arshad said the court had accepted the petition and Captain (r) Safdar Awan would receive the amount once the written order was issued. He added that the application was filed after the NAB formally ended proceedings against Maryam in the case.
It is worth mentioning that a week ago, an LHC division bench disposed of a NAB petition seeking cancellation of CM Maryam’s bail in the sugar mills case. During the proceedings, a prosecutor informed the court that the CM had been acquitted in the case, making the request for cancellation of her bail unsuccessful.
However, the court, accepting the NAB’s submissions, dismissed the petition as infructuous.
It is also pertinent to mention that on November 4, 2019, the LHC had released CM Maryam on bail in the sugar mills case, subject to surrender of her passport to the court. He was also ordered to deposit Rs 70 million in the court registry.
Also read: LHC issues detailed ruling in sugar mill case
Later on October 3, 2022, a full bench of the LHC returned the passport to the prime minister after the NAB said it no longer required the travel document.
A NAB team arrested CM Maryam on August 8, 2019, when she was present at Kot Lakhpat jail on her weekly visit to her jailed father Nawaz Sharif along with her daughter and other family members.
