Hamza Shahbaz’s judicial remand extends till January 3

LAHORE (92 News) – Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz’s case not heard due to Punjab lawyers’ strike as an accountability court extended Hamza Shahbaz’s judicial remand till January 3. The court resumed the hearing against Hamza Shahbaz and his cousin Yousaf Abbas and inquired about the reason behind their absence. The court was told that the suspects could not be produced before due to the lawyers’ strike and security issues. The AC judge expressed resentment and issued show-cause notice to the relevant authorities for not bringing Hamza Shahbaz and Yousaf Abbas to the court while declaring that the act is against the law. The Punjab Bar Council called a strike at courts across the province on Friday, due to which a number of high-profile cases were not heard. These cases include those involving Hamza Shahbaz and Yousaf Abbas. They were not presented before the accountability court in Lahore. The opposition leader was supposed to be presented in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case while Yousaf in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case. The cases have both been adjourned till January 3. Earlier, the LHC issued notice to the NAB on the bail plea of Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz for January 13. Justice Ali Baqar Najafi questioned Hamza Shehbaz’s lawyers whether they had taken instructions from Hamza Shehbaz who had expressed his no-confidence in the bench. They replied that they had full confidence in the bench. On December 12, Accountability Court Judge Jawadul Hassan had extended the judicial remand of the opposition leader till December 20 in the assets beyond income and money laundering case. However, he could not be produced in court from Kot Lakhpat jail due to security reasons. During the last hearing, the NAB prosecutor had presented the key report regarding filing the reference against Hamza Shehbaz. The court had extended judicial remand of the opposition leader till December 12. In the previous hearing, the court asked the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor regarding to file a formal reference against the politician. “When the reference will be filed against Hamza Shehbaz,” the court questioned. The prosecutor replied that the preparations to file reference