Maryam’s lawyer says Captain Safdar Awan will receive the amount once the written order is issued.
Maryam Nawaz, Chief Minister of Punjab. Photo: File
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered the return of Rs 70 million deposited by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz as bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case after the anti-corruption watchdog withdrew proceedings in the case.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum heard the petition seeking release of the amount.
During the hearing, the NAB lawyer presented an affidavit confirming the withdrawal of the constitutional procedure. Following this submission, the court approved Maryam’s plea and ordered the return of Rs 70 million deposited with the High Court as security in the case.
According to the petition, the amount was deposited as security during the proceedings relating to the return of the sweets. The petitioner argued that since the NAB had already closed the case, the amount deposited should be released.
Learn more: LHC seeks response from NAB on Maryam Nawaz’s Rs 70 million 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 is issued. He added that the application was filed after the NAB officially terminated proceedings against Maryam in the case.
It is worth mentioning that a week ago, an LHC division bench ruled on a NAB petition seeking cancellation of CM Maryam’s bail in the sweets case. During the proceedings, a prosecutor informed the bench that the CM had been acquitted in the case, making the application for cancellation of her bail infructuous.
However, the court, welcoming NAB’s arguments, dismissed the petition as unsuccessful.
It is also pertinent to mention that the LHC on November 4, 2019 released CM Maryam on bail in the sweets case, subject to surrender of her passport to the court. She was also ordered to deposit Rs70 million with the judicial registrar.
Read also: LHC issues detailed ruling in sugarcane case
Later, on October 3, 2022, a full bench of the LHC returned the passport to the chief minister after the NAB said it no longer needed the travel document.
An NAB team had arrested CM Maryam on August 8, 2019, when she was present at Kot Lakhpat jail during her weekly visit to her incarcerated father Nawaz Sharif along with his daughter and other relatives.
