ISLAMABAD: On Monday, a special central court acquitted Suleman Shehbaz, the son of the incumbent prime minister, along with all other accused individuals, in a Rs16 billion alleged money laundering case.
Judge Bakht Fakhar Behzad presided over the case, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) presented responses to 27 questions before the court.
During the hearing, Judge Behzad requested clarification on the entity responsible for conducting the money laundering investigation.
The FIA counsel informed the court that the JIT, led by Dr. Rizwan, had carried out the inquiry.
When the FIA investigating officer was asked about the lack of action taken against individuals who had changed their positions during the inquiry and investigation, the officer remained silent, which led to the judge expressing disappointment.
Judge Behzad demanded solid evidence to support the allegations and stressed the importance of substantial proof in the case. He firmly stated, “Tell me directly, don’t tell me stories. I have read everything and I will now send all FIA personnel to jail, remember this. I want an answer—what is the evidence of the crime with the challan.”
Following these exchanges, the special central court delivered its verdict. It acquitted Suleman Shehbaz and all other accused individuals in the FIA money laundering case.
The Money laundering case
Shehbaz Sharif, former chief minister of Punjab, and his sons, Hamza Shehbaz Sharif and Suleman Shehbaz, have been named as defendants in a case registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Anti Money Laundering Act.
Since November 2020, authorities have initiated the case, and it has gained momentum. In December 2021, the FIA submitted a detailed challan against Shehbaz and Hamza, alleging their involvement in a massive money laundering scheme amounting to Rs16 billion.
During the investigation, the agency discovered 28 benami accounts linked to the Shehbaz family, as highlighted in the report. These accounts revealed alleged money laundering activities spanning from 2008 to 2018, totaling an astonishing Rs16.3 billion.
The report revealed a complex network of 17,000 credit transactions that formed the money trail. Shockingly, investigators discovered that undisclosed accounts held these funds and transferred them to Shehbaz in his personal capacity.
According to the FIA, Shehbaz’s family ultimately benefited from money sent out of Pakistan through Hundi, which was acquired from the accounts of low-wage employees. The investigation found eleven employees of the Sharif family guilty of facilitating money laundering.
In a subsequent development, a special court judge reserved the decision after carefully considering the arguments presented in the acquittal application filed by the accused. The court acquitted Shehbaz and Hamza but summoned the remaining accused individuals to face charges.
Meanwhile, the co-accused in this high-profile case have bailed as of June 11, 2022, while their individual cases are ongoing. The progress of this case continues to captivate the nation as it unfolds within the judicial system.
