Pakistan courtroom extends pre-arrest bail of PM Shehbaz Sharif, son in cash laundering case

A Pakistani courtroom has prolonged pre-arrest bail of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz until May 28 in a Rs 14 billion cash laundering case.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif mentioned the instances towards him are a part of a witch-hunt by the earlier authorities (PTI photograph)

A Pakistani courtroom in Lahore on Saturday prolonged pre-arrest bail of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son and Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz until May 28, whereas it issued arrest warrant for his different son Shehbaz Suleman within the Rs 14 billion cash laundering case.

Shehbaz appeared earlier than the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) particular courtroom in Lahore for the primary time since he assumed the cost of the highest workplace. In earlier two hearings, he had sought exemption from look.

“Presiding Judge of the Special Court Ijaz Awan turned down the request of Shehbaz and Hamza’s counsel for confirming their bails. However, he extended their pre-arrest bail till next hearing on May 28,” a courtroom official instructed PTI.

The decide allowed Shehbaz to talk on his case.

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Shehbaz mentioned the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) had performed an investigation into cash laundering allegations towards him and his relations for 2 years however couldn’t discover even one rupee of corruption.

“All the cases against me are political,” he mentioned and added that he had served because the chief minister for 10 years in Punjab province however had by no means taken wage.

“My salary would be Rs10 million but I did not take it. I also went on official tours using my own money. I saved the nation billions of rupees in development projects,” he mentioned.

The prime minister additional mentioned the instances towards him are a part of a witch-hunt by the earlier authorities led by Prime Minister Imran Khan

Shehbaz and his sons Hamza and Suleman had been booked by the FIA in November 2020 below numerous sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Anti Money Laundering Act. Suleman has been within the UK for the final three years, evading arrest.

The FIA investigation has detected 28 benami accounts, allegedly of the Shehbaz household, by which an quantity to the tune of Rs 14 billion was laundered from 2008 till 2018.

The FIA examined the cash path of 17,000 credit score transactions and the quantity was saved in “hidden accounts” and allegedly given to Shehbaz in his private capability.