Ramzan Sugar Mill case: Court extends judicial remand of Hamza Shehbaz

(Karachi) An accountability court in Lahore extended the judicial remand of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz till November 17 in Ramzan Sugar Mills case, local media reported on Tuesday.

The Accountability Court Judge Amjad Nazir Chaudhry was hearing the case.

During proceedings, the judge asked the police official about the reason for not producing Hamza in the previous hearing.

To this, Superintendent Police (SP) Headquarters said that the accused denied to sit in a bullet-proof vehicle which was arranged to bring him to the court. He said police officials waited for Hamza for two hours in the jail but he did not accompany them.

The judge remarked that how could it be possible for an under trial person to refuse to appear before the court which should be meant as the failure of the state.

Hamza Shehbaz said that he was appearing before the court for 17 months, but it has never happened earlier. He added that jail officials were informed about his backache, but they deliberately brought a bullet-proof vehicle.

Hamza said that he waited for around 2.5 hours, however, the vehicle was not changed. The accused also complained against the jail officials for not providing him timely medical assistance after he contracted coronavirus.

Later, the court directed additional secretary home for devising standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the production of prisoners and adjourned the hearing till November 17.

The court also decided to give a verdict on reports submitted by the home secretary, Punjab Prisons Inspector General (IG) and others over non-production of Hamza Shehbaz in the previous hearing.