LAHORE: An accountability court in Lahore on Wednesday postponed the indictment of Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz in 16 billion rupees money laundering case after prime minister and his son moved new requests for acquittal in probe.
Sharif and his family are facing accusations of money laundering of billions of rupees using accounts managed in title of their businesses and employees, according to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The agency nominated Sharif and his sons Shehbaz and Suleman Shehbaz as the main defendants. in a business. 14 others have been named in in first information report (FIR) under sections 5(2) and 5(3) (criminal misdemeanor) of Prevention of Corruption Law, read with 3-4 of Money Laundering Law.
While Shehbaz is no longer in charge minister of Punjab, his father he is expected to request parliamentary immunity from prosecution, as he did in hearings held after he took over office of in prime minister after a controversial no-confidence vote against his predecessor Imran Khan, in April.
two have already was granted pre-arrest pledge in a business. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) declared Suleman a criminal. in 2019 after he refused to face dirty money watchdog despite repeated challenges.
Special Court (Central-I) called father-son duet in July however, to frame the accusations, Amjad Pervez, counsel for in prime ministerrequested on on behalf of Sharif one-day of release from attendance with reference to his busy schedule in Islamabad due to flood- related activities.
Meanwhile, during the trial, Pervez and Muhammad Aurangzeb, counsel for Shehbaz stood trial and filed separate petitions for acquittal. of their clients in a business.
“Shehbaz Sharif cannot appear in court today in connection with the important government obligations, hence the request for one liberation day should be provided. FIA nominated respondents in baseless case,” Pervez told the judge.
The hearing was subsequently adjourned until 17 September.
The link basically blamed Sharif of be a beneficiary of assets held in title of his family members and Benamidars, who had no sources acquire such assets.
He said that the members and the Benamidars of Shehbaz family received fake money transfers from abroad of billions in their personal bank Accounts. In addition to these money transfers, bureau said billions of rupees were laundered way of foreign payment orders that have been deposited in personal bank Accounts of Two sons of Sharif.
The link further stated that family of Shehbaz failed substantiate sources of funds used for mastery of assets.
It is reported that the suspects committed offenses. of corruption and corrupt practices provided for by the provisions of National Accountability Ordinance 1999 and money laundering as noted in Money Laundering Act 2010. He asked the trial court to try the suspects and punish them in accordance with the law.
