LAHORE: An accountability court in Lahore granted the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) a 14-day extension in the physical remand of PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz and her cousin Yousuf Abbas in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) case.
Earlier, the two had been remanded into NAB custody following their arrest on August 8. Amid strict security arrangements, the duo was presented in court today, where judge Naeem Arshad heard NAB’s request for a 15-day extension in their physical remand.
During the proceedings, NAB’s lawyer said that the investigations with Maryam had not yet been completed and requested an extension in remand for that purpose.
In response, Maryam’s lawyer Advocate Amjad Pervez said that the investigation had been carried out in all cases and the trial had been completed.
Earlier, the judge expressed displeasure at selfies being taken with the PML-N leader in the courtroom. The court also experienced a power outage during the proceeding. The noise created by party workers affected the proceedings, following which the judge left the courtroom and went to his chambers.
As proceedings resumed, the judge granted NAB 14-day physical remand and ordered that the two be presented before it on September 4.
Ahead of today’s court appearance, strict security arrangements were made. Containers and barbed wires were used to close routes towards the judicial complex and a large contingent of female police were stationed inside and outside the court.
Various PML-N leaders also arrived at the accountability court including Khurram Dastgir Khan, Hina Pervez Butt, Saiful Malook Khokhar, Barjees Tahir, Parvaiz Rasheed, Muhammad Zubair, Nehal Hashmi and Rana Muhammad Iqbal.
Maryam’s husband retired Capt Mohammad Safdar Awan and son Junaid Safdar were also in the courtroom.
