Shehbaz, son acquitted in money laundering case

LAHORE: A accountability court here on Thursday acquitted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, his son Hamza Shehbaz and wife Nusrat Shehbaz in a Rs8 billion money laundering reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau.

The verdict was announced by Judge Qamaruz Zaman, a written order of which is yet to be issued.

The court also acquitted all others accused in the case, with the exception of the prime minister’s daughter, Rabia Imran. A perpetual arrest warrant was issued for Imran, who has been declared an absconder.

The court also issued instructions to unfreeze the properties of all of the acquitted individuals.

In May, NAB told an accountability court that it found no evidence of corruption or money laundering against PM Shehbaz, his family members and others.

A prosecutor had submitted a supplementary reference in the court at the May hearing, stating that the anti-graft body conducted a fresh investigation and found that the charges against the premier and others were found to be true.

Previously, the court had declared PM Shehbaz’s son Suleman, daughter Rabia Imran and son-in-law Haroon Yousaf, as absconders for avoiding their appearance in the case’s trial proceedings.

Suleman and Yousaf ended their self-exile last year and returned to the country after securing protective bail from the courts.