Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif's son acquitted in money laundering case
Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif
A Lahore special district court on Monday acquitted Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's son Suleman Shehbaz in amoney laundering case to the tune of $72 million (16 billion Pakistani rupees).
Suleman, appearing alongside his counsel, was made one of the prime suspects by theFederal Investigation Agency (FIA) in the case, whilethe National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had nominated him in an assets-beyond-means reference.
During the hearing,the joint investigation team (JIT) members were asked to show “any iota of incriminating evidence” against Suleman. Surprisingly, the JIT said despite going through all data, they did not have any concrete evidence against the accused.
“Tell me straight away, don’t make up stories, I have read it all. I will send all the FIA people to jail now, remember this. I want an answer, what proof of crime was there with the challan?” Judge Fakhar Behzad asked.
The judge observed that “in the wake of questions and answers...I am of the firm view that no incriminating material is available on the record on the basis of which any valid charge can be framed against the accused […] They are discharged from this case".
After giving the dressing down, the judge directed authorities to take action on FIA officials for launching the bogus case, "so thatin future other officers should learn the lesson and should restrain themselves from obeying the illegal orders of their superiors".
)
RSS backed Jantar Mantar student protest? Mohan Bhagwat's 'question authority' remark resurfaces
)
India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
Tri-service coordination: How the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force worked together in Operation Vijay
)
Seattle Center shooting: Two dead as food festival is rocked by '7 to 8 shots', 1 victim critical
)
India's foreign ministry debunks viral claim made during last week's protests
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
'She is nasty': Trump says THIS about Karoline Leavitt as she returns to White House press briefings
)
Delhi Police issues BIG statement on viral 'don't leave national capital without permission' notice | FACT CHECK
)
Hidden in British archives: Scientists decode 200-year-old Indian scroll that helped sailors cross one of the world's toughest seas
)
Jennifer Lopez's ex-husband Ojani Noa claims he confronted Sean 'Diddy' Combs over alleged affair
)
Google ends Play Services Support, likely to stop these Android phones from downloading apps & games
)
Berlin Pride attack suspect shot dead by police; incident classified as ‘Islamist terror’ attack
)
Nandan Nilekani, Infosys co-founder and Aadhaar architect, to lead PM’s high-powered task force
)
He predicted COVID-19 and 2008 economic crisis, was labeled fearmonger. Now he has another dire warning
)
ChatGPT invoked God, told pastor not to worry about his symptoms. Then pulmonary embolism hit
)
Houthis strike Saudi oil facilities, shoot down drone in escalating tensions: VIDEO
)
Oil tanker explodes in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting a naval mine
)
NEET row: PM Modi appoints Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani as head of new exam reforms task force
)
DMK founder Karunanidhi’s granddaughter booked for slapping SBI branch manager | Video
)
'We didn't stop them...: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's first reaction on student protests
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why US fighter jets use seamless bubble canopies compared to Russian jets
)
'House raided, father picked up': UP man Mohd Junaid alleges crackdown after CJP protest; Police deny claims
)
Indian Idol 16 crowns Jyotirmayee Nayak; Tanishk Shukla finishes second
)
NEET Protests riddled with misinformation? Delhi Police blocks 480 Pakistan-based handles spreading 'fake news' since Operation Sindoor
)
Iran tells Pakistan it has not withdrawn from negotiations but suspended them: Report
)
Bihar wants 'backless Saturday’ in govt schools as official notice misspells 'bagless'
)
Lock Upp elimination takes dramatic turn as Shivangi Joshi's candid admission grabs attention
)
'They’re afraid right now...': Netanyahu reacts for first time after Mamdani threatens arrest over ICC warrant
)
US says Turkey still barred from F-35 program until it gives up Russian S-400 system: Report
WATCH |Pakistan: Lookback at Shehbaz Sharif's year as Prime Minister
Shehbaz acquitted
In May, earlier this year, Shehbaz and his son Hamza were declared innocent in the case as well.The supplementary report stated that Sharif, his wifeNusrat Shehbaz, and his son Hamza Shehbazwere found to have no involvement in the money laundering scheme. It added that corruption allegations could not be proved or substantiated under theNAB Amendment Act.
Why was Suleman accused?
70-year-old Shehbaz, and his sons Hamza, 47, and Suleman, 40, were booked in November 2020 by the FIA under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Anti Money Laundering Act.
According to the FIA report submitted in the court, the probe team had "detected 28 benami accounts of the Shehbaz family through which money laundering of Rs 16.3bn was committed during 2008-18. The FIA examined the money trail of 17,000 credit transactions."
Benami transactions are those transactions that are made by a person without using his name or by using the name of another. The amount was kept in hidden accounts and given to Shehbaz in a personal capacity, the FIA argued earlier.
(With inputs from agencies)
WATCH WION LIVE HERE: