Court to deliver judgement in Ramzan Sugar Mills case on Feb 6

An anti-corruption court in Lahore postponed rendering a decision on Monday in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz.

Following the conclusion of the arguments by both sides, the court is scheduled to make its ruling public on February 6.

The AC Judge, Sardar Muhammad Iqbal Dogar, presided over the hearing.

Defence attorney Amjad Pervez said that the Punjab cabinet, acting for the sake of the region, had authorised the drainage channel’s construction rather than then-CM Shehbaz Sharif.

The defence attorney went on to claim that the prosecution against Hamza and Shehbaz was driven by political considerations.

Conversely, Mian Waseem, an anti-corruption prosecutor, said that he believed the sludge’s construction was appropriate.

The prosecution also claimed that the late MPA Rahmat Ali requested that the sewer be constructed.

After examining the case files, the prosecution sought the court to rule on the acquittal motion.

⇒Context

Following changes to the NAB legislation, the Ramzan Sugar Mills case was transferred to the anti-corruption unit.

According to the mills, Shehbaz Sharif was detained by the NAB on October 5, 2018, and on February 14, 2019, the Lahore High Court granted him bail.

The NAB said that Mr. Shehbaz Sharif, the chief minister, and his son Hamza, with each other’s help and cooperation, committed the crime of abuse of power, resulting in a loss of Rs213 million for the national funds.