Pakistan's anti-graft body grills Maryam in corruption cases

Lahore: Pakistan's anti-graft body on Wednesday grilled jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter and PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz in cases related to money laundering and income beyond means.

A combined investigation team of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) quizzed Maryam for an hour at its provincial headquarters in Lahore.

The NAB launched investigation against Maryam along with her father Sharif and uncle Shehbaz Sharif and others for owning the M/s Chaudhry Sugar Mills Ltd that had "dubious business transactions".

A NAB official told PTI that Maryam did not bring with her any record of the Chaudhry Sugar Mills being a major shareholder.

"She also evaded all questions and asked the investigators to give her a written questionnaire of which she would reply after consulting her legal team," the official said. He said seeing her non-cooperation the NAB has decided to re-summon early next month.

The NAB has reportedly traced numerous telegraphic transfers (TTs) worth millions of rupees by the Sharif family and the end beneficiaries included Maryam, the major shareholder of the Chaudhry Sugar Mills.

The NAB asked her to specify the channel through which payment was received for exports, including banking accounts where payment was received, country of export, quality of sugar exported. She was also asked to provide details of investment/loans given to M/s Shamim Sugar Mills Ltd, all TTs sent.

Earlier, the Islamabad accountability court had

rejected a NAB's application seeking legal proceedings against Maryam for using a bogus trust deed in the Avenfield properties case.