Shahbaz's absence dismays court.

LAHORE -- An accountability court on Wednesday expressed dismay over non-appearance of Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif in proceedings of Ramzan Sugar Mills reference against him.

Referring to the health of Mr Shahbaz, who was tested positive for Covid-19, Presiding Judge Amjad Nazir Chaudhry observed that neither the suspect was hospitalised nor on a ventilator.

'His presence is required for minutes only to receive charge-sheet against him so that the trial proceedings could start formally,' the judge reminded the counsel of Mr Shahbaz.

The judge further observed that usually a Covid-19 patient, as per medical experts, took 14 days to recover.

Hamza produced before court in two cases

Advocate Amjad Pervez, the counsel, stated that Mr Shahbaz, as per advice of his doctors, was scheduled to get his fresh Covid-19 test conducted on July 2.

He said the doctors had been extra careful in their advice as his client was over 60.

He pointed out that the Lahore High Court had also directed the leader of opposition to get tested from Punjab Institute of Health Sciences.

The counsel filed a written application for grant of one-time exemption from personal appearance on behalf of Shahbaz.

A NAB prosecutor opposed the application and said normally reports of coronavirus patients came negative after three weeks of quarantine. He said the suspect had last appeared before the court in November 2019.

The prosecutor suggested the court to proceed with the process of indictment as the pleader of the suspect/Shahbaz was...