LAHORE:
The counsel representing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday concluded his arguments in the premier’s acquittal application while arguments by the counsel of former Punjab chief minister Hamza Shahbaz are yet to be completed in the Rs16 billion money laundering case.
As the proceedings commenced, advocate Amjad Pervez argued that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had removed the allegation of Rs9 billion from the challan which was submitted.
He informed the court that the FIA had told them that the allegation regarding the five bank accounts, amounting to Rs9 billion, were not linked either to the premier or his son Suleiman Shehbaz and belonged to another accused, Mushtaq Cheeni, against whom an investigation was not initiated.
“Those false tales of the kickbacks mentioned in the FIR had not been made part of the challan,” Pervez further told the court.
Read Sugar mill reference sent back to NAB
Advocate Pervez quoted as reference the decision of Mooni Elahi’s recent case, adding this case is also similar in nature. The judge asked about the similarity between the two, to which Pervez replied that Elahi’s case also revolves around the allegation of transferring money through employees with lesser wages.
He further informed the court that PM Shehbaz and Hamza could not be punished as the record which had been collected or submitted before the court during the previous government, could not be relied upon.
Meanwhile, the premier took the rostrum and told the court that he had not been drawing his salary and TADA allowances during his last three tenures when he was serving as chief minister of Punjab.
“This amount is in millions, so how could I even think of earning more money fraudulently?”
After the PM’s counsel completed the arguments on his acquittal application, the court adjourned proceedings for a short time. Following the recess, Advocate Pervez will begin his arguments on Hamza Shehbaz’s acquittal application.
FIA registered a case against PM Shehbaz and his sons Hamza and Suleman 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 and Hamza over their alleged involvement in the Rs16billion money laundering case.
Read More Money laundering case transferred
The FIA’s report revealed 28 benami accounts of the Shehbaz family, which were found by the investigation team.
The agency also examined the money trail of 17,000 credit transactions. The report added up that the amount was kept in hidden accounts and given to Shehbaz in a personal capacity.
The FIA alleged that the money received from the accounts of low-wage employees by Shehbaz 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.
Discover more from PressNewsAgency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.