Judge Ejaz Awan of the Special Central Court pronounced the verdict
Lahore: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son, former Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, were acquitted in the Rs 16 billion money laundering case filed by the FIA.
The special court of Lahore heard the FIA money laundering case, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz did not appear. His lawyer Amjad Parvez filed a request for excused appearance that Shahbaz Sharif could not appear due to official engagements and Hamza’s health was unwell.
Judge Ejaz Awan of Special Central Court Lahore acquitted Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz in money laundering case. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz Sharif’s lawyer Amjad Parvez Advocate filed appeals for the acquittal of the accused in the Rs 16 billion money laundering case in the Special Central Court. On October 10, the Special Central Court had directed the lawyers to present arguments on a daily basis in the acquittal pleas against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz in the money laundering case.
The court had directed the lawyers of the accused to complete their arguments by today (October 12). The FIA had told the court that there was no evidence of direct deposit or withdrawal of money in the accounts of Shahbaz Sharif and Hamza Shahbaz.
Also read: Promotion of the judge who will hear the money laundering case against the Prime Minister
During the hearing in the court, Shahbaz Sharif’s lawyer said that the investigating officer tried to distort the statements of the witnesses. The lawyer took the position that no witness mentioned Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz in the statements of 161 and neither submitted written arguments in the court.
After the arguments of Shehbaz Sharif’s lawyer were completed, the court had reserved the decision of the case, which has now been pronounced. The court accepted the acquittal pleas of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz.
The court issued a reserved summary judgment while a detailed and written judgment will be issued later.
FIA Special Prosecutor Farooq Bajwa while talking to the media after the court verdict said that the challan of the case was presented in the previous regime and the current team has not made any changes in the challan, the prosecutor requested the acquittal of Shahbaz Sharif and Hamza Shahbaz. Farooq Bajwa further said that there is enough evidence that the trial of the case should be conducted. The former government presented the best challan.
When was the case of money laundering of 16 billion rupees registered?
A money laundering case of 16 billion rupees was registered by FIA against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif through sugar mills business in November 2020. In March 2022, FIA presented the case challan in the court which consisted of 7 volumes. While 100 witnesses were also included in the case.
Also read: money laundering case; Prime Minister and Hamza Shehbaz filed an acquittal petition
In the money laundering case of 16 billion rupees, the court declared three accused including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s son Salman Shehbaz as accomplices, while one of the accused in the case, Maqsood Chapadasi, died abroad while the third accused, Tahir Naqvi, was also an accomplice.
After the court verdict, the League workers celebrated outside the court and distributed sweets. A heavy police force was deployed outside the central court on the occasion of the verdict.
