MM News

LAHORE: A banking court on Saturday extended the pre-arrest bails of Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz till December 11 in a money laundering case.

The court gave the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) a “last chance” to file its challan in the case by next hearing. Judge Sardar Tahir Sabir resumed hearing as PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz appeared in court. The court extended their interim pre-arrest bail until December 11.

At the hearing today, the court enquired about the case challan. The investigation officer complained that a key accused, Mohammad Usman, has obtained bail and is not appearing before the agency for investigation.

The court ordered all the accused to join the FIA investigation, giving the investigators the last chance to file the case challan. The judge warned that the entire probe team will be served a show-cause notice on failure to submit the charge-sheet.

At the outset of the hearing, Shehbaz Sharif told the court that he has nothing to do with Ramzan Sugar Mills as it was owned by his father. “My children’s sugar mills suffered billions of losses because of me,” he said, adding that NAB was also hearing the same case. Responding to his comments, the judge told Shehbaz Sharif that the bench has noted down his points.

The banking court judge ordered the FIA to present the incomplete challan at the next hearing. He remarked that FIA will not be given more time for submitting the challan against the suspects in the money laundering case. Later, the judge adjourned the hearing till December 11.

Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza are facing Rs25 billion money laundering charges in the sugar scandal. According to the FIA prosecution, Shehbaz is accused of aiding and abetting his sons Hamza and Salman in accumulating more assets than their known means of income.