FIA will not pursue case against PM Shehbaz, his son
Pakistan’s premier investigating agency has decided not to pursue a money laundering case against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz and others. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) move came three days before a special court in Lahore is scheduled to frame charges against them.
In a written order in Lahore on Thursday, Special Judge (Central) Ejaz Hussain Awan made the application filed by the FIA prosecution part of the case record. The order stated that after hearing of the case on April 11, the FIA’S special prosecutor moved the application of no interest in the trial.
It added that the special prosecutor submitted that the FIA director-general through investigation officer had conveyed him to stop appearing in the case as the quarters concerned were not interested in pursuing the case against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz.
The order further noted that the special prosecutor had asked to make the application a part of the record.
The application is accordingly taken on the record and be annexed with the case, the order said.
The FIA had booked Shehbaz and his sons — Hamza and Suleman — in November 2020 over money laundering charges. Suleman is absconding in the UK.
Fourteen others had also been named in the police report.
The special court had on January 27 granted pre-arrest bail to Shehbaz and Hamza in the case.
Meanwhile, Saleem said that the prosecution was stopped from appearing in the case as Shehbaz and Hamza had assumed public office now. “FIA officials have expressed no interest in the trial against Shehbaz, Hamza and others,” he added.
The move comes just three days before the court was to indict the premier and the Punjab chief minister on May 14. During the previous hearing, the court had instructed the premier and others to ensure their presence at the next hearing as no further adjournments would be made.
“It is made clear that on [the] next date of hearing, charge[s] shall be framed and all the accused shall ensure their personal attendance,” the written order had said. — agencies