LAHORE:
A special central court in Lahore declared Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s son, Suleman Shehbaz, a proclaimed offender on Friday in the Rs16 billion money laundering case.
Accused Tahir Naqvi was also declared a proclaimed offender after they both failed to appear before the court despite being summoned.
During the hearing, the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) investigating officer submitted his report on the money laundering case.
The court has sought details of properties belonging to the accused in addition to details regarding the death certificate of co-accused, Malik Maqsood alias Maqsood ‘Chaprassi’, who passed away in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The court granted a one-day pardon at the request of premier Shehbaz and directed him to appear at the next hearing.
The trial has been adjourned till July 30.
Earlier this month, the FIA prosecutor had told a special court judge that his client wanted to arrest both PM Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza in the money laundering case involving Rs16 billion.
Read Money laundering case: ‘Incomplete’ warrants draw court ire
Special court presiding judge Ijaz Hassan Awan had also reissued arrest warrants for PM Shehbaz’s other son, Suleman Shehbaz as well as Tahir Naqvi and Malik Maqsood in the case.
Shehbaz and his sons — Hamza and Suleman — were booked by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in November 2020 under Sections 419, 420, 468, 471, 34 and 109 of the PPC and 5(2) and 5(3) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and r/w 3/4 of Anti Money Laundering Act.
At least 14 others were also named in the FIR under Sections 5(2) and 5(3) (criminal misconduct) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, read with 3/4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
The cases of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his other son, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz, as well as other important personalities on July 2 were transferred to another court.
The cases of money laundering against the Shehbaz family as well as those of other Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PNL-N) leaders Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Salman Rafique related to a housing scheme scam were transferred from the court of Judge Naseem Ahmed Virk.
Currently, seven accountability courts are hearing cases in Lahore.
Earlier, five judges of the accountability courts were hearing the cases.
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