Hearing a plea by members of the Shehbaz family seeking to unfreeze their assets, an accountability court in Lahore on Friday summoned the investigation officer of the case along with relevant record.
The accountability judge directed the IO to appear on the next hearing slated for Jan 31.
Advocate Amjad Pervez, representing the applicants, requested the court to withdraw its previous order regarding freezing properties of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and members of his family.
In Dec last year, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore had got all movable and immovable properties of Sharif and family frozen in connection with a probe against them in the income beyond means and money laundering cases.
The bureau wrote to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), director general of the excise and taxation department, Model Town Housing Society secretary, Judicial Employees Cooperative Housing Society secretary and Galliat Development Authority director general, asking them to freeze their properties with immediate effect. Earlier on Dec 11, the accountability court had ordered authorities to freeze properties of the PML-N president and his family.
The court, in its verdict, directed authorities concerned to freeze all assets of Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza Shahbaz, Suleman Shehbaz and two wives of Shehbaz – Nusrat Shehbaz and Tehmina Durrani
Separately, a court extended the judicial remand of Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz till January 31 in assets beyond income case.
During the hearing, the court directed investigation officer to file the reference against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader as soon as possible.
On June 11, the accountability watchdog had arrested Hamza in the same case after Lahore High Court (LHC) turned down his applications for extension in interim bail.
In the hearing on June 11, Salman Butt, the defence counsel for Hamza, had argued that according to the NAB ordinance, the bureau could not issue arrest warrants unless an inquiry over the matter was completed.
To which, Justice Naqvi had remarked that the judgement would be done according to the constitution, and justice would be ensured. Moreover, the prosecutor had submitted complete details of assets of Shehbaz Sharif’s family members in the court with an argument that their assets were beyond their known sources of income.
“Billions of rupees were added to the assets of Shehbaz’s family, whereas Hamza couldn’t provide details of the sources of his income,” he added.
The bench was further told by the NAB that in the year 2018, his assets were found to be worth Rs410 million, whereas he could not prove assets worth Rs380 million, and the money was laundered to Dubai and England, and 40 individuals were involved in the money laundering.
On the other hand, an accountability court accepted Shehbaz Sharif’s plea seeking permanent exemption from the hearing of Ashiana Housing and Ramzan Sugar Mills references.
During the proceedings, the lawyer of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president submitted exemption plea in the court and told that his client is unable to attend the hearings as he is in London.
Subsequently, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court has granted permanent exemption to Shehbaz Sharif and adjourned the hearing.
Khursheed Shah
Over in Sukkur, an accountability court extended the judicial remand of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah for 17 days in assets beyond income case.
During the hearing, the court has allowed National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to investigate the accused regarding the case and directed to re-produce him on February 3. The anti-graft watchdog’s questionnaire based on 10 queries has also been handed over to Shah’s lawyers.
It is to be mentioned here that Joint Investigation Team (JIT), headed by NAB DG in Multan Attiqur Rehman, has been formed on the orders of NAB chairman to probe into Khursheed Shah’s case. PPP leader along with 17 others are named in a reference pertaining to corruption of over Rs1 billion.
On Sept 18, 2019 the NAB arrested senior PPP leader Syed Khursheed Shah in a case regarding his alleged assets beyond means. “NAB Sukkur arrested Syed Khursheed Shah in the assets beyond means case,” a brief handwritten statement issued by NAB Islamabad said.
Multiple corruption cases against Shah are under investigation with NAB. In 2012, an accountability court had directed NAB to file a reference against him on a complaint pertaining to alleged accumulation of illegitimate assets.
In 2013, NAB had reopened two corruption cases against Shah under the directives of the Lahore High Court. In July, 2019, NAB Chairman retired justice Javed Iqbal had approved nine inquiries against different personalities, including Shah.
