ISLAMABAD, Sep 19(ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former chief minister Punjab Hamza Shehbaz filed an application in a special central court on Monday seeking direction to unfreeze their company accounts.
The plea was filed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders’ counsel earlier today, following which the special central court judge adjourned proceedings for 1:30pm with direction to the lawyer for argument on a Rs16 billion money laundering case against aforesaid accused persons.
As proceedings commenced, applications seeking exemption from personal appearance were filed contending that PM Shehbaz was on an official visit owing to which he could not appear before the court.
Regarding Hamza Shehbaz, the counsel submitted the doctor’s report and stated that he was unwell and therefore could not appear before the court.
Bank officials also appeared before the court along with the relevant record.
It is worth mentioning that in previous proceedings, the court had issued a show-cause notice to concerned bank officials over inaction in freezing Suleman Shehbaz Sharif’s bank accounts.
On September 7, the court had adjourned proceedings for framing charges in the Rs16 billion money laundering case after PM Shehbaz and Hamza Shehbaz had failed to appear before the court citing health concerns.
FIA’s case
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had registered a case against PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif and his sons Hamza Shehbaz Sharif and Suleman Shehbaz in November 2020 under sections 419, 420, 468, 471, 34 and 109 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and r/w 3/4 of Anti Money Laundering Act.
It is pertinent to mention that the FIA in December 2021 had submitted the challan against Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz over their alleged involvement in a Rs16 billion money laundering case.
The FIA’s report released 28 benami accounts of the Shehbaz family which were detected by the investigation team through which money laundering of Rs16.3bn was committed during 2008-18.
The agency had examined the money trail of 17,000 credit transactions and the report added up that the amount was kept in hidden accounts and given to Shehbaz in a personal capacity.
The FIA had alleged that the money received from the accounts of low-wage employees by Shehbaz Sharif had been transferred outside Pakistan through hundi, giving benefits to his family. Eleven low-paid employees of the Sharif family were found guilty of facilitating money laundering.