NAB files challenge against LHC order in Maryam Nawaz case

National Accountability Bureau  – (Web Desk) – The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has challenged the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) decision regarding Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case. The matter is now before the Federal Constitutional Court.

The case relates to alleged money laundering and transactions beyond her known income linked to Chaudhry Sugar Mills, where Maryam was a major shareholder.

Back in November 2019, the LHC had granted Maryam bail in the case, asking her to surrender her passport. Later, in October 2022, the court returned her passport after NAB said it no longer needed it.

In its petition, NAB said the high court interfered in the chairman’s authority by questioning the decision to close the inquiry against Maryam. NAB asked the constitutional court to cancel the LHC order from February 4, 2026, saying it had the legal right to end proceedings before filing a formal case.

NAB added that the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case was private and did not involve any loss to the national treasury. It also said no proof of corruption or wrongdoing was found against Maryam during the investigation.

The bureau argued that the LHC misinterpreted the law, saying the chairman can stop any proceedings before filing a case. NAB said the court was wrong to make the closure of the inquiry dependent on judicial approval, which was not required by law.

The petition highlighted that if Parliament had wanted court approval to be mandatory, it would have written it in the law. NAB confirmed Maryam was accused of suspicious transactions, but after investigation, the case was closed, being treated as a private matter.

After the inquiry was closed, Maryam went to the LHC seeking the return of her Rs70 million surety bonds.

The high court had ruled that NAB should submit its report regarding the closure of the inquiry before the accountability court and directed that the accountability court decide within one month on final approval and the return of the amount.

NAB said its executive board had withdrawn the proceedings under Section 31B(1) on April 3, 2024.

After the withdrawal of the proceedings, Maryam filed a miscellaneous petition in the Lahore High Court seeking the return of the Rs70 million surety amount.

The high court ruled that the accountability court in Lahore should decide the matter within a month.

NAB argued that if a case is withdrawn at the inquiry stage, the accountability court has no judicial authority in the matter.

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The bureau further argued that where the law does not require judicial approval, such a condition cannot be introduced through a court ruling.

It also stated that the LHC issued its decision without issuing notice to the attorney general’s office.

According to NAB, once the chairman had approved the withdrawal of the case, the high court had no authority to reinterpret the law.

The petition further claimed that the Lahore High Court had taken suo motu notice of the matter despite lacking jurisdiction.

The appeal has been filed through an additional prosecutor general.