The NAB prosecutor claimed that Hamza Shahbaz is also owner of the Mills and informed the court that he was cooperating with the NAB in the investigation. "NAB only issues arrest warrants of the accused on non-cooperation in the investigation," the prosecutor said.
The court was surprise to know that the NAB had made the mastermind of Ramzan Sugar Mills scam, its star witness and asked the counsel of Fawad Hassan Fawad to submit his arguments on Wednesday (today).
Earlier, NAB Special Prosecutor claimed that Shahbaz Sharif as Chief Minister approved and released funds for the construction of Nullah and former MPA Maulana Rehmatullah got it constructed which cost national exchequer Rs. 213 million. He, however, pointed out that no measures were taken out for draining out the contaminated water from the Ramzan Sugar Mills.
The prosecutor in his arguments said that under the notification issued on October 26, 1981 in case an industrial unit set up beyond the jurisdiction of Municipal Corporation or municipal committee, the owner of the factory would be responsible for all arrangements for draining out contaminated water. He said Ramzan Sugar Mills was also constructed away from jurisdiction of Municipal Corporation but the public money was used to construct Nullah and bridge. He however claimed that contaminated water of Mills caused hepatitis disease in nearby villages.
When asked whether NAB had secured the revenue record of Nullah, prosecutor replied that no record was maintained as the land belonged to HED. He said nullah was intentionally diverted towards mills. He said Rs. 40 million was also spent from national exchequer for the construction of bridge over river in order to facilitate the Mills owned by Sharifs.
The counsel of Shahbaz in his rebuttal arguments said the nullah was constructed to benefit seven localities of the adjoining areas not the mills. He pointed out that Sugar mill was set up 25 years ago and the inhabitants of the area never companied about the sewerage system. He said not a single witness had nominated Shahbaz Sharif as accused, adding that Punjab assembly has approved the scheme for construction of the Nullah. However in response to court's query, he could not present gazette notification of scheme.
He claimed that Shahbaz Sharif's arrest under section 24-A of NAB ordinance 1999 was illegal because after arrest in one case a person could not be nabbed in another case and added NAB filed the politically motivated reference against Shahbaz.