An accountability court on Monday adjourned proceedings into Ramzan Sugar Mills and illegal assets/money laundering cases against Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz till May 12.

Presiding Judge Amjad Nazir Chaudhry asked the counsel of Hamza as to how the trial proceedings will be held in the absence of suspect as Hamza was not produced before the court due to lockdown. The counsel said the court could continue with its proceedings since the lawyers of all the suspects were available on each hearing. A NAB prosecutor also told the court that the Lahore High Court permitted trial proceedings in the absence of the suspects.

The NAB alleged that PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, being chief minister of Punjab, had approved construction of a drain in Chiniot with a cost of Rs 360 million only to benefit Ramzan sugar mills owned by his sons Hamza and Salman. It said public funds were misused for the benefit of family business of the suspects. Shahbaz Sharif was granted exemption from personal appearance before the court.