Pakistan court extends pre-arrest bail of PM Shehbaz Sharif, son in money laundering case
The Hindu
Mr. Sharif appeared before the Federal Investigation Agency special court in Lahore for the first time since he assumed the charge of the top office.
A Pakistani court in Lahore on Saturday extended pre-arrest bail of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son and Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz till May 28, while it issued arrest warrant for his other son Shehbaz Suleman in the ₹14 billion money laundering case.
Mr. Sharif appeared before the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) special court in Lahore for the first time since he assumed the charge of the top office. In previous two hearings, he had sought exemption from appearance.
“Presiding Judge of the Special Court Ijaz Awan turned down the request of Shehbaz and Hamza’s counsel for confirming their bails. However, he extended their pre-arrest bail till next hearing on May 28,” a court official told PTI.
The judge allowed Mr. Sharif to speak on his case.
Mr. Sharif said the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) had conducted an investigation into money laundering allegations against him and his family members for two years but could not find even one rupee of corruption.
“All the cases against me are political,” he said, and added that he had served as the Chief Minister for 10 years in Punjab province but had never taken salary.
“My salary would be ₹10 million but I did not take it. I also went on official tours using my own money. I saved the nation billions of rupees in development projects,” he said.
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