LAHORE: An accountability court here Thursday issued non-bailable arrest warrants of Salman Shahbaz son of leader of opposition in National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif and four others accused in money laundering case against Shahbaz’ family.
The court also issued summons of Nusrat Shahbaz wife of Shahbaz Sharif, Rabiya and Juvirya for appearance before the court.
The court directed the NAB to ensure the arrest of Sulman Shahbaz and other accused in the reference.
Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and Opposition Leader in National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif appeared before the accountability court and said that he has not committed corruption of a single penny and never took salary from the national exchequer.
The PML-N leader stated that he had brought international investment worth billions of rupees to Pakistan during his tenure.
The accountability judge assured him to take the decision as per law.
Talking to media there outside the courtroom, Shahbaz said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is doing politics on ex-premier Nawaz Sharif’s health and added the authorities had allowed him to travel abroad.
Shehbaz Sharif further expressed hope that all the political parties will participate in All Parties Conference (APC).
According to the NAB investigation report, presented in the court Chief Financial Officer of Sharif family Muhammad Usman laundered money for the Shehbaz family.
Muhammad Usman started working for the Sharif family in 2005 at Ramzan Sugar Mills for Rs 90,000 per month. In 2006, the Nawaz family acquired Hudaibiya Engineering from the Shehbaz family and in 2007, the Shehbaz family made more companies, including the Sharif Feed Mill, to expand their business.
The bank accounts of Shehbaz Sharif’s wife Nusrat Shehbaz and his sons were used for foreign remittances and loans. On the direction of Salman, Waqar Trading Company made fake foreign remittances of rupees 600 million.
The entire amount was transferred to Salman Shehbaz’s personal account via cheque but it is not known where Salman receives his money from. A large number of PML-N worker were also present outside the court premsise to express solidarity with their leader.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020