LAHORE: A Lahore anti-corruption court is set to announce its verdict on February 6 regarding the acquittal pleas of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case.
Allegations Against Shehbaz Sharif
The case revolves around the alleged misuse of authority by Shehbaz Sharif during his tenure as Punjab’s chief minister, where he was accused of using public funds to construct a 10-kilometre sludge carrier in Chiniot to benefit Ramzan Sugar Mills, owned by his sons.
In a reference filed on February 18, 2019, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) claimed the project caused a loss of Rs213 million to the national exchequer.
Case Developments and Legal Proceedings
- The reference was revived in November 2023 after the Supreme Court struck down amendments introduced by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government.
- Shehbaz and Hamza were indicted in 2019 and later applied for a case transfer in September 2024 following the Supreme Court’s decision to restore the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999 amendments.
- In October 2024, the case was moved from the accountability court to the anti-corruption court, as NAB could no longer prosecute cases involving amounts below Rs500 million.
Defense’s Argument
During the latest hearing, Shehbaz and Hamza’s lawyer, Amjad Pervez, argued that the complainant had admitted that the sludge carrier was not solely built for Ramzan Sugar Mills but was meant to serve the entire local area.
The court will now determine whether the acquittal pleas will be accepted or rejected in its February 6 ruling.
