Maryam Nawaz Sharif granted bail in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case.

LAHORE -- The Lahore High Court (LHC) has on Monday granted bail to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case. The court instructed Maryam to submit two surety bonds of Rs10 million each. She has also been instructed to surrender her passport and deposit an additional amount of Rs70 million.

'We allow this petition and admit the petitioner to post-arrest bail subject to furnishing of surety bonds in the sum of Rs.10 Million with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned trial court and to establish her bonafide would also deposit amount of Rs.7 crore with the Deputy Registrar (Judicial) of this court besides submitting her passport(s) with him,' said the verdict.

A two-member bench of the high court, comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem, announced the verdict. The legal representatives of Maryam and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) were present in the court.

"Since the prosecution has shown the bank statement of the [...] petitioner in which on 28.11.2011 [...] Rs7 crores were withdrawn and the prosecution has apprehension of fleeing away of the petitioner, therefore, to satisfy our judicial conscience we would pass a conditional order," says the court's written order, granting Maryam bail under Article 199 of the Constitution.

The surety bonds will be submitted in the accountability court and accountability court will issue the release orders of Maryam Nawaz.

The court has directed Maryam Nawaz to join the proceedings of the reference regarding Chaudhry Sugar Mills, when these proceedings will stat. The court has also issued the written order comprising 22 pages. The court said that withdrawing Rs 70 million by the accused could not be termed as crime. The court said that Marym Nawaz has rejected allegations leveled against her. The court said that the NAB should prove its allegations against Maryam Nawaz in court after holding investigations.

Justice Ali Baqar Najafi said that the arrest of any accused could not be seen as punishment, adding that there is further need of investigation in Chaudhry Sugar mills case. He said that according to investigation held so far Maryam Nawaz could not be kept in custody anymore.

The bench announced the verdict - reserved on October 31 - on Maryam Nawaz's bail plea.

During the previous hearing, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor responded to the arguments recorded by...