Lahore special court acquits Suleman Shehbaz in money
Lahore‘s Special Court (Central) on Monday acquitted Suleman Shehbaz, son of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a Rs16 billion money laundering case registered with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Suleman, who returned to Pakistan in December 2022 after four years of self-exile in London, was accused in the money laundering case registered with the FIA while the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had nominated him in an assets-beyond-means reference.
He was declared a proclaimed offender in both cases. But prior to his return, the Islamabad High Court had restrained both the authorities from arresting him.
During today’s hearing, Suleman appeared in court accompanied by his counsel, Advocate Amjad Parvez, while the FIA submitted its response to 27 questions asked by the court.
In October last year, a special court also acquitted the prime minister and his elder son, Hamza Shehbaz, in the same case.
At the outset of the hearing, Judge Bakht Fakhar Bahzad asked who had inquired about the money laundering, to which the FIA’s counsel, Farooq Bajwa, answered that a joint investigation team presided by Dr Rizwan — former FIA director general — had initiated the inquiry.
“Has the FIA recorded a single witness statement during the entire investigation?” the judge inquired, at which FIA Investigation Officer (IO) Ali Mardan remained silent.
“What action was taken against those who kept changing their narrative during the inquiry and the investigation?” Judge Bahzad further asked. Bajwa responded that no action was taken.
The judge then proceeded to remark, “Is there any evidence in the FIA’s seven volumes? Tell me simply — do not insert any stories. I have read everything.”
He warned the FIA that he could send all the agency’s officials to jail right.
