Speical court granted bail to PM Shehbaz & CM Punjab Hamza in money laundering case

LAHORE: A special court granted bail to PM Shehbaz and CM Punjab Hamza Shehbaz in Rs16 billion money laundering case.

A special court hearing the Rs16 billion money laundering case filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz.

PM Shehbaz and Hamza have been asked to pay Rs1 million in bail bonds each within seven days.

Bail requests of other suspects were also granted, with the court ordering them to pay Rs200,000 in bail bonds within seven days.

PM Shehbaz and Hamza were summoned to Special Court (Central-I) today for questioning.

Earlier in the day, the court reserved its verdict on all requests for bail, including those by PM Shehbaz and Hamza.

‘No stake in Ashiana Housing Scheme, Ramzan Sugar Mills’

PM Shehbaz, addressing the court, stated: “I am obliged to inform the court of the truth regarding my bail.”

Read more: Imran Khan takes a helicopter to Bani Gala amid strict security

He said that the case by the FIA is identical to that being pursued by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

“The cases against me pertain to the Ashiana [Housing Scheme] and Ramzan Sugar Mills,” said Shehbaz.

“You have no ownership of them?” asked the judge.

“I have no stake in either,” PM Shehbaz responded.

Speaking of NAB’s investigation against him, he said that the bureau moved the Supreme Court against him, despite the fact that the LHC had issued a detailed verdict in the case.

He said that the then chief justice had asked for proof of corruption against him after which NAB “panicked and fled”.

PM Shehbaz, speaking of FIA’s probe, went on to state: “The FIA visited me twice when I was in NAB detention, but I refused to answer without my attorney’s input.”

He said the FIA was provided with all the facts verbally. “My cases were decided on their merit, and I emerged clean,” he remarked.

The premier added that a man’s honour is his greatest asset and that “severe” allegations have been made against him.

“I faced countless hearings and trials. The FIA was admonished for not presenting a challan. I believe the FIA was preparing for an arrest, hence the challan was delayed,” he added.

He reiterated that he is neither a director nor a stakeholder of the Ramzan Sugar Mills.

PM Shehbaz continued: “[All this] harmed the family’s sugar mills. Why would I engage in corruption and money laundering and harm the family business?”

He added that he “had the legal right to grant the business a subsidy” during his term as chief minister.

“The entire case is built on lies and will be buried,” PM Shehbaz said.