Maryam Nawaz taken into custody by NAB
08 August, 2019
PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz was taken into custody by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday, while she was on her way back from visiting her father Nawaz Sharif at the Kot Lakhpat Jail.
According to an official press release issued by NAB, Maryam and her cousin Yousuf Abbas have been arrested in connection to the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case. The PML-N vice president is now being taken to NAB headquarters.
On the directives of the NAB chairman, a team of doctors will conduct a medical examination on both detainees.
According to the press release, as per the law, Maryam and Abbas will be presented before an accountability court in Lahore for remand tomorrow.
Maryam was due to appear before NAB in the CSM reference today. However, she had excused herself from appearing before the accountability bureau today and had gone to meet Nawaz Sharif in jail instead.
PML-N sources confirmed that Maryam was taken into custody after she was shown the arrest warrants issued for her non-appearance before the bureau.
PML-N leaders and supporters, including Marriyum Aurangzeb and Ahsan Iqbal, are protesting the development outside the National Assembly.
Before the assembly session was adjourned due to PML-N's protest, Pakistan People Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned Maryam's arrest in a strongly-worded speech on the floor of the house. A resolution has also been submitted in the Punjab Assembly against Maryam's arrest.
Maryam had appeared before NAB on July 31 to record her statement in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills reference. The statement was regarding ‘dubious’ business transactions of the Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) of which she was one of the major shareholders.
NAB had re-summoned Maryam on Aug 8 (today), and asked her to provide details of her shareholdings in the CSM, details of financial relations with foreign nationals — Saeed Said bin Jabar al Suweidi, a UAE national; Sheikh Zakauddin, a UK national; Hani Ahmad Jamjoon, a Saudi national; and Naseer Abdullah Lootah, a UAE national.
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