LAHORE: A special court in Lahore on Saturday confirmed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz’s pre-arrest bails in an Rs16 billion money laundering case registered against them by the Federal Investigation Agency(FIA).
Both the accused were directed to submit bail bonds of Rs1 million each.
The court also confirmed the pre-arrest bails of other suspects in the case and directed them to submit bail bonds of Rs200,000 each
Earlier in the day, the court reserved its verdict on all requests for bail, including those by PM Shehbaz and Hamza.
PM Shehbaz, addressing the court, stated: “I am obliged to inform the court of the truth regarding my bail.”
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 Lahore High Court 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.
For his part, PM Shehbaz’s attorney Amjad Pervez stated that the fact that Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz had previously been interrogated in jail by the FIA was sufficient proof for their bail and that no further evidence could be presented.
Shehbaz’s counsel stated that a witness on page 2 of volume 6 did not provide the statement mentioned in the challan.
FIA Prosecutor Farooq Bajwa said he seeks to conclude his arguments.
The court asked the FIA if bankers were called as witnesses in the investigation, and the FIA prosecutor said that they were not.
He said: “I would not state anything that is not a part of the records. The entire matter has been presented to the court.”
“I will speak in accordance with the law, I will not simply oppose [the defendant] as a prosecutor,” said Bajwa, adding: “I would not engage in such trickery for which I have no explanation.”
“Two cheques dated 2015 and 2013 were deposited into Gulzar’s account,” said the FIA prosecutor elaborating on the “evidence” found.
He said that “these are political figures”, and that “such is the evidence collected when such cases are opened”.
Bajwa said that the FIA’s evidence was “not ill-intentioned” and that as much evidence as possible was collected in the case.
It is pertinent to mention here that the special court in Lahore had summoned the father-son duo for their indictment in the case in April but it was deferred due to the premier’s foreign engagements.
In December 2021, the FIA had submitted a challan against Shehbaz and Hamza to the special court for their alleged involvement in laundering Rs16 billion in a sugar scam.
