A Pakistani court on Wednesday extended pre-arrest bail to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Punjab chief minister-elect Hamza Shehbaz till May 14 in a Rs14-billion money laundering case.

"The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) special court Lahore on Wednesday accepted Shehbaz's application seeking exemption from personal appearance for one day. However, the court directed the premier to file a reply in the case otherwise it will initiate indictment proceedings on the next hearing on May 14," a court official told PTI.

However, Hamza Sharif appeared before the court.

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The official said the court also directed Shehbaz's counsel Advocate Amjad Pervez to present arguments before the court on May 14 on his contention that his client can't be indicted in this case.

Shehbaz is also the President of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party. Shehbaz and his sons -&nbsp;Hamza and Suleman - were booked by FIA in November 2020 under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Anti Money Laundering Act. Suleman is absconding and residing in the UK.

The FIA investigation has detected 28 benami accounts, allegedly of the Shehbaz family, through which an amount of 14 billion Pakistani Rupees (USD 75 million) was laundered from 2008 to 2018.

The FIA examined the money trail of 17,000 credit transactions. The amount was kept in 'hidden accounts'&nbsp;and given to Shehbaz in his personal capacity, according to the charges.

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Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court on Wednesday directed Punjab Governor Omer Sarfaraz Cheema to ensure the completion of the process of administering oath to Chief Minister-elect Hamza Shehbaz by April 28, either doing so himself or through a nominee.

Hamza was elected chief minister on April 16. Hamza and his party blamed ousted prime minister Imran Khan for the delay in oath-taking.

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A Pakistani court on Wednesday extended pre-arrest bail to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Punjab chief minister-elect Hamza Shehbaz till May 14 in a Rs14-billion money laundering case.

A Pakistani court on Wednesday extended pre-arrest bail to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Punjab chief minister-elect Hamza Shehbaz till May 14 in a Rs14-billion money laundering case. "The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) special court Lahore on Wednesday accepted Shehbaz's application seeking exemption from personal appearance for one day. However, the court directed the premier to file a reply in the case otherwise it will initiate indictment proceedings on the next hearing on May 14," a court official told PTI. However, Hamza Sharif appeared before the court. Also read | Russia, United States swap prisoners, Biden calls it 'difficult decision' The official said the court also directed Shehbaz's counsel Advocate Amjad Pervez to present arguments before the court on May 14 on his contention that his client can't be indicted in this case. Shehbaz is also the President of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party. Shehbaz and his sons - Hamza and Suleman - were booked by FIA in November 2020 under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Anti Money Laundering Act. Suleman is absconding and residing in the UK. The FIA investigation has detected 28 benami accounts, allegedly of the Shehbaz family, through which an amount of 14 billion Pakistani Rupees (USD 75 million) was laundered from 2008 to 2018. The FIA examined the money trail of 17,000 credit transactions. The amount was kept in 'hidden accounts' and given to Shehbaz in his personal capacity, according to the charges. Also read | US warship sails through Taiwan Strait, China calls it 'provocative action' Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court on Wednesday directed Punjab Governor Omer Sarfaraz Cheema to ensure the completion of the process of administering oath to Chief Minister-elect Hamza Shehbaz by April 28, either doing so himself or through a nominee. Hamza was elected chief minister on April 16. Hamza and his party blamed ousted prime minister Imran Khan for the delay in oath-taking. WATCH | Pakistan: Three Chinese nationals among Four killed in Karachi University blast

Pakistani court extends pre-arrest bail to PM Shehbaz Sharif in money laundering case

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's son Hamza on Saturday (April 16) became the new chief minister of Punjab.

The leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Hamza won the election with 197 votes in his favour.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party boycotted the polls due to which Hamza'a rival Pervaiz Elahi did not get any votes.

However, they manhandled Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari in Pakistan's Punjab Assembly after which a ruckus erupted.

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According to Mazari, "Those who attacked me want martial law in Pakistan but they will not succeed."&nbsp;

In response, Elahi said, "Whatever happened today in the assembly is to be blamed on Deputy Speaker Mazari."

"Rana Mashood tortured me after which I fell unconscious and he was guiding them," he claimed.

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Hamza said, “When we were sitting in the lobby and got to know that you were targeted. I believe this is not an attack on you but on this assembly’s respect. Time goes but characters are membered.”

He praised Mazari for the braveness with which he fulfilled his duty and paid him a tribute.

“Nation was worried for 15 days and today despite all this Democracy won. This is not my victory it is a victory of each and every member sitting here,” Hamza said.

“I want to ask Imran Khan why did you promise 10 million jobs, five million houses when currently hundreds of thousands of youngsters are unemployed at the moment,” he added.

In Punjab's National Assembly, a candidate needs 186 votes to become the chief minister. Hamza has been its member since 6 September 2018.

Hamza's father Shehbaz Sharif has served as the chief minister of Pakistan's Punjab thrice.

(With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's son Hamza on Saturday (April 16) became the new chief minister of Punjab. The leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Hamza won the election with 197 votes in his favour.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's son Hamza on Saturday (April 16) became the new chief minister of Punjab. The leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Hamza won the election with 197 votes in his favour. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party boycotted the polls due to which Hamza'a rival Pervaiz Elahi did not get any votes. However, they manhandled Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari in Pakistan's Punjab Assembly after which a ruckus erupted. According to Mazari, "Those who attacked me want martial law in Pakistan but they will not succeed." In response, Elahi said, "Whatever happened today in the assembly is to be blamed on Deputy Speaker Mazari." "Rana Mashood tortured me after which I fell unconscious and he was guiding them," he claimed. Also read | Former PM Khan requests overseas Pakistanis to donate for his campaign Hamza said, “When we were sitting in the lobby and got to know that you were targeted. I believe this is not an attack on you but on this assembly’s respect. Time goes but characters are membered.” He praised Mazari for the braveness with which he fulfilled his duty and paid him a tribute. “Nation was worried for 15 days and today despite all this Democracy won. This is not my victory it is a victory of each and every member sitting here,” Hamza said. “I want to ask Imran Khan why did you promise 10 million jobs, five million houses when currently hundreds of thousands of youngsters are unemployed at the moment,” he added. In Punjab's National Assembly, a candidate needs 186 votes to become the chief minister. Hamza has been its member since 6 September 2018. Hamza's father Shehbaz Sharif has served as the chief minister of Pakistan's Punjab thrice. (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif's son Hamza becomes new chief minister of Punjab amid ruckus

An accountability court on Friday rejected the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) request to further extend the physical remand of PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case.

However, the judge Naeem Arshad sent Hamza to judicial remand till July 20, reported Dawn.

The leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly will remain in the accountability bureau custody as he is on physical remand till July in a money laundering and assets beyond means case.

Hamza, whose father Shahbaz Sharif was also indicated in the same case, was arrested on June 11 after Lahore High Court dismissed withdrawn of his bail petitions in two cases--money laundering or assets beyond means and Ramzan Sugar Mills case.

The court had granted physical remand of Hamza to the NAB till June 26 which was later extended.

During the proceeding, PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif said that NAB made a 'propaganda fake and baseless case'.

In February, NAB had alleged that Sharif misused his post as the former Punjab chief minister to build a bridge amounting to Rs 500 million to facilitate the Ramzan mills.&nbsp;

An accountability court on Friday rejected the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) request to further extend the physical remand of PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case.

An accountability court on Friday rejected the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) request to further extend the physical remand of PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case. However, the judge Naeem Arshad sent Hamza to judicial remand till July 20, reported Dawn. The leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly will remain in the accountability bureau custody as he is on physical remand till July in a money laundering and assets beyond means case. Hamza, whose father Shahbaz Sharif was also indicated in the same case, was arrested on June 11 after Lahore High Court dismissed withdrawn of his bail petitions in two cases--money laundering or assets beyond means and Ramzan Sugar Mills case. The court had granted physical remand of Hamza to the NAB till June 26 which was later extended. During the proceeding, PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif said that NAB made a 'propaganda fake and baseless case'. In February, NAB had alleged that Sharif misused his post as the former Punjab chief minister to build a bridge amounting to Rs 500 million to facilitate the Ramzan mills.

Pakistan: Accountability court rejects NAB request to extend PML-N leader Hamza physical remand

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&nbsp;An accountability court Wednesday remanded Opposition leader in Pakistan's Punjab Assembly <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-court-restrains-anti-graft-body-from-arresting-hamza-shehbaz-208787">Hamza Shahbaz</a> to 14-day physical custody, a day after the country's anti-graft body arrested him in cases related to money laundering and corruption.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was granted Hamza's custody till June 26. Judge Jawadul Hassan pronounced the reserved verdict after hearing the arguments from both sides in the case.

A NAB team earlier brought Hamza, 44, to the court amid tight security. Hamza is the son of PML-N president and National Assembly opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif.

The NAB prosecutor informed the court that the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) vice president had failed to disclose the means from which he received Rs 500 million transferred into his account.

The NAB had requested for a 15-day physical remand of the PML-N leader. The court has ordered Hamza to be presented before the accountability court on June 26, Geo News reported.

Hamza was arrested Tuesday by the NAB officials after a two-member Lahore High Court (LHC) bench dismissed bail applications filed by him.

His arrest came a day after former president Asif Ali Zardari was arrested by NAB in Islamabad.

Hamza is accused of laundering money through his front men who are already in NAB's custody.

He is under investigation in the Ramzan Sugar Mills, Saaf Paani project and assets beyond known means of income cases.

The NAB has found evidence of money laundering on a massive scale through which Shehbaz and his family accumulated assets in the UK.

According to sources privy to NAB's investigation, the illegally accumulated assets are worth Rs 85 billion to Rs 100 billion and were bought during Shebaz's tenure as the Punjab Chief Minister.

In the Ramzan Sugar Mills corruption case, Shehbaz and his son Hamza are accused of "fraudulently and dishonestly" causing a Rs 213 million loss to the national exchequer.

Shehbaz was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau in October 2018 and released on bail on February 14.

His brother and three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have been serving a seven-year prison term at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore since December 24, 2018, when an accountability court convicted him in one of the three corruption cases filed in the wake of the apex court's July 28, 2017 order in the Panama Papers case.

Both Sharif and his daughter Maryam have been sentenced to seven years in prison, respectively. Maryam's husband Muhammad Safdar was jailed for one year in the same case.

Sharif and his family have denied any wrongdoing and allege that the corruption cases against them are politically motivated.

An accountability court Wednesday remanded Opposition leader in Pakistan's Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz to 14-day physical custody, a day after the country's anti-graft body arrested him in cases related to money laundering and corruption.

An accountability court Wednesday remanded Opposition leader in Pakistan's Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz to 14-day physical custody, a day after the country's anti-graft body arrested him in cases related to money laundering and corruption. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was granted Hamza's custody till June 26. Judge Jawadul Hassan pronounced the reserved verdict after hearing the arguments from both sides in the case. A NAB team earlier brought Hamza, 44, to the court amid tight security. Hamza is the son of PML-N president and National Assembly opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif. The NAB prosecutor informed the court that the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) vice president had failed to disclose the means from which he received Rs 500 million transferred into his account. The NAB had requested for a 15-day physical remand of the PML-N leader. The court has ordered Hamza to be presented before the accountability court on June 26, Geo News reported. Hamza was arrested Tuesday by the NAB officials after a two-member Lahore High Court (LHC) bench dismissed bail applications filed by him. His arrest came a day after former president Asif Ali Zardari was arrested by NAB in Islamabad. Hamza is accused of laundering money through his front men who are already in NAB's custody. He is under investigation in the Ramzan Sugar Mills, Saaf Paani project and assets beyond known means of income cases. The NAB has found evidence of money laundering on a massive scale through which Shehbaz and his family accumulated assets in the UK. According to sources privy to NAB's investigation, the illegally accumulated assets are worth Rs 85 billion to Rs 100 billion and were bought during Shebaz's tenure as the Punjab Chief Minister. In the Ramzan Sugar Mills corruption case, Shehbaz and his son Hamza are accused of "fraudulently and dishonestly" causing a Rs 213 million loss to the national exchequer. Shehbaz was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau in October 2018 and released on bail on February 14. His brother and three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have been serving a seven-year prison term at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore since December 24, 2018, when an accountability court convicted him in one of the three corruption cases filed in the wake of the apex court's July 28, 2017 order in the Panama Papers case. Both Sharif and his daughter Maryam have been sentenced to seven years in prison, respectively. Maryam's husband Muhammad Safdar was jailed for one year in the same case. Sharif and his family have denied any wrongdoing and allege that the corruption cases against them are politically motivated.

Hamza Shahbaz remanded into 14-day National Accountability Bureau custody

A court Monday restrained Pakistan's top anti-graft body from arresting Hamza Shehbaz, the Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly and the son of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Shehbaz Sharif.

A two-judge bench of the Lahore High Court, headed by Justice Malik Shehzad Ahmed Khan, restrained the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from arresting Hamza until further notice, Geo TV reported.

The court also ordered Hamza to pay surety bonds worth Rs 10 million and issued a notice to NAB seeking its reply in the matter.

A NAB team had carried out two successive raids on Friday and Saturday at Shehbaz's Model Town residence to arrest Hamza.&nbsp;

During Monday's hearing, Hamza's lawyer told the court, "In an earlier order, the high court had directed that Hamza is informed 10 days prior to his arrest. The LHC had granted bail to my client in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case."

The PML-N leader's counsel further said Hamza is the opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly and the 10-day order had been issued to the relevant forum can be approached for bail.&nbsp;

Hamza is seeking pre-arrest bail so he can appear before NAB, the council added.

Justice Shehzad then asked the NAB prosecutor regarding the cases in which they are seeking to arrest Hamza. At this, the PML-N leader's counsel said his arrest warrants have been issued in a case pertaining to assets beyond known sources of income.

"Three cases against Hamza are being probed in NAB Lahore," the NAB prosecutor said.

Hamza's lawyer then said, "NAB should share evidence against us and we will respond. Hamza had also approached LHC before this on November 1 and is innocent."

However, the NAB prosecutor stated, "We have solid evidence against Hamza. On April 3, an inquiry against Hamza was upgraded to an investigation. Hamza's earlier bail petition had been declared ineffective and the Supreme Court has issued a ruling on this matter."

At this, the bench said, "Both the matters are separate."

After hearing arguments of both sides, the court restrained NAB from arresting Hamza until further notice and sought a reply from the accountability bureau.&nbsp;

The hearing of the case has been adjourned till April 17.

On Saturday, the LHC issued a short order granting interim bail to Hamza until April 8.&nbsp;

A court Monday restrained Pakistan's top anti-graft body from arresting Hamza Shehbaz, the Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly and the son of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Shehbaz Sharif.

A court Monday restrained Pakistan's top anti-graft body from arresting Hamza Shehbaz, the Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly and the son of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Shehbaz Sharif. A two-judge bench of the Lahore High Court, headed by Justice Malik Shehzad Ahmed Khan, restrained the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from arresting Hamza until further notice, Geo TV reported. The court also ordered Hamza to pay surety bonds worth Rs 10 million and issued a notice to NAB seeking its reply in the matter. A NAB team had carried out two successive raids on Friday and Saturday at Shehbaz's Model Town residence to arrest Hamza. During Monday's hearing, Hamza's lawyer told the court, "In an earlier order, the high court had directed that Hamza is informed 10 days prior to his arrest. The LHC had granted bail to my client in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case." The PML-N leader's counsel further said Hamza is the opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly and the 10-day order had been issued to the relevant forum can be approached for bail. Hamza is seeking pre-arrest bail so he can appear before NAB, the council added. Justice Shehzad then asked the NAB prosecutor regarding the cases in which they are seeking to arrest Hamza. At this, the PML-N leader's counsel said his arrest warrants have been issued in a case pertaining to assets beyond known sources of income. "Three cases against Hamza are being probed in NAB Lahore," the NAB prosecutor said. Hamza's lawyer then said, "NAB should share evidence against us and we will respond. Hamza had also approached LHC before this on November 1 and is innocent." However, the NAB prosecutor stated, "We have solid evidence against Hamza. On April 3, an inquiry against Hamza was upgraded to an investigation. Hamza's earlier bail petition had been declared ineffective and the Supreme Court has issued a ruling on this matter." At this, the bench said, "Both the matters are separate." After hearing arguments of both sides, the court restrained NAB from arresting Hamza until further notice and sought a reply from the accountability bureau. The hearing of the case has been adjourned till April 17. On Saturday, the LHC issued a short order granting interim bail to Hamza until April 8.

Pakistan court restrains anti-graft body from arresting Hamza Shehbaz

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