LAHORE: An accountability court on Monday allowed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to close the Chaudhry Sugar Mills inquiry against Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The court passed this order on an application of NAB seeking closure of the inquiry. The case involved scrutiny of assets of the owners of Chaudhry Sugar Mills, including Maryam Nawaz and Nawaz Sharif. The court ruled that the NAB had lawfully terminated the investigation in accordance with the amended accountability laws. The court said that Maryam Nawaz now may reclaim Rs 70 million surety bonds she had deposited. Earlier, the NAB prosecutor informed the court that the investigation against Maryam Nawaz and Nawaz Sharif had already been closed as no evidence of corruption was found. He maintained that the inquiry could not continue due to the absence of corruption evidence and changes in the NAB law that limited the bureau’s jurisdiction. Maryam Nawaz had approached the Lahore High Court seeking the return of her Rs 70 million submitted as surety bonds. The LHC had directed the NAB to obtain formal approval from the accountability court for closing the inquiry. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026