Money laundering case: LHC grants Shehbaz Sharif pre arrest bail

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court on Wednesday granted pre arrest bail to Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif in the assets beyond means and money laundering case.

A two-member bench of the (LHC) comprising Justice Tariq Abbasi and Justice Farooq Haider granted bail against surety bonds worth (Rs 500,000) and further ordered National Accountability (NAB) from arresting Shehbaz Sharif till (June 17).

During the hearing today, Shehbaz Sharif counsel told the court that his client was summoned on (June 2).

To this, the court asked the (NAB) prosecutor why they had summoned him on (June 2) if the warrant was issued before. (The warrant for his arrest was issued after we received the relevant material,) the (NAB) prosecutor told the court, the (NAB) prosecutor told the court.

Shehbaz Sharif counsel further told the court that his client had provided all the documents that (NAB) had asked for. He added Shehbaz Sharif had been summoned on (October 5, 2018,) and had been arrested in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case.

(NAB continued to conduct an injury while Shehbaz Sharif was in remand for 63 days,) he said.

The court then ordered (NAB) not to arrest the PML-N leader till (June 17) and directed Shehbaz Sharif to submit bonds worth (Rs 500,000).

According to Geo News, PML-N leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanullah, Fazal Chaudhry and Rana Arshad had been present at the court for the hearing.

Speaking to Geo News, after the hearing, Sanaullah said that when a petition had been filed in the court, it was obligatory upon law enforcement agencies to tell their side to the court.

(Despite Shehbaz submitting a petition in court, NAB raided his and other PML-N leaders' houses,) he said.

Sanullah added that even roads leading up to the courthouse had been sealed today. (After the chief justice took notice of this, the blockades from roads were cleared,) he said, adding that he was hopeful the court would play its part in stopping this political revenge.

Earlier, authorities had cordoned off roads leading to the court to avoid any mishap.

On June 1, Shehbaz Sharif legal team had filed a petition before he was required to appear before a combined investigation team of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). However, the petition could not be fixed for hearing before the division bench, constituted to hear NAB-related pleas, and Shehbaz Sharif did not appear before the bureau too.

The PML-N leader’s petition is at (No 2) on the cause-list of urgent cases before the bench.

Shehbaz Sharif in his petition, stated that the corruption watchdog’s assets beyond means inquiry against him was based on mala fide intentions as it had been initiated at the behest of the incumbent government. He added that the Bureau levelled charges against him without any shred of evidence as he had been declaring his assets regularly.

The PML-N leader added he was also arrested in the same case in (2018) and he had fully cooperated with (NAB) investigators, however, the anti graft body did not present any proof against him relating to misuse of powers or money-laundering, etc.

Shehbaz Sharif lawyer stated that his client had been declaring his assets since he stepped into politics in (1988) and nothing had been concealed ever. He refuted money-laundering allegations, saying the whole story was fabricated and concocted.

He added that during an inquiry or investigation, (NAB) could not invoke the provisions of anti-money laundering law, adding that allegations against him were of a documentary nature and all necessary documents had already been provided to the Bureau. Shehbaz Sharif further stated that he feared that (NAB) might arrest him in connection with its pending inquiries, which would hinder him from performing his duties as the opposition leader in the National Assembly.