Money-Laundering Case: Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s Pre-Arrest Bail Extended

Lahore: A special court of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) here extended pre-arrest bail for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Punjab chief minister-elect Hamza Shehbaz, in a money laundering case.

The court directed Shehbaz to file a response, failing which it will initiate indictment proceedings on May 14, the next scheduled hearing, PTI reported.

The court also accepted Shehbaz’s application seeking exemption from personal appearance for a day. His son, however, did appear before the court.

Shehbaz and his two sons — Hamza and Suleman — were booked by FIA in November 2020 under Pakistan’s Prevention of Corruption Act and Anti Money Laundering Act. Suleman, who is absconding, lives in Britain.

As many as 28 benami (anonymous) accounts have been identified, allegedly belong to the Sharif family, through which Pakistan Rs 14 billion was said to be laundered between 2008 and 2018.

FIA, on examining the money trail, claimed that a total of 17,000 credit transactions were found with the money being kept in ‘hidden accounts’ and given to Sharif in his personal capacity.

The 70-year-old Shehbaz, younger brother of three-time former PM Nawaz Sharif, was on April 10 elected as the 23rd PM after Imran Khan lost a no-confidence vote.

Also Read: Money-Laundering Case: How Court Relief Helped Tainted Shehbaz Sharif Become Pak PM