LAHORE :A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench on Monday extendedinterim bail of Opposition Leader In National Assembly MuhammadShehbaz Sharif in assets beyond means and money laundering case tillSeptember 22.The bench, headed by Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem, heard the pre-arrestbail petition, filed by Shehbaz Sharif.
As the proceedings started, Shehbaz Sharif, along with his counselAzam Nazir Tarar and Amjad Pervaiz , appeared before the bench whereasSpecial Prosecutor Syed Faisal Raza Bukhari appeared on behalf of theNational Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Advocate Azam Tarar argued before the bench that the bureau had fileda reference against Shehbaz Sharif in assets beyond means and moneylaundering case before an accountability court. He requested that thereference should be made part of the record, adding that a civilmiscellaneous application had been filed for the purpose.To which, the NAB prosecutor submitted that the bureau did not haveany objection over it and the reference would be placed on record.
The petitioner’s counsel submitted that the bureau had not providedgrounds for arrest, adding that the same should also be placed onrecord. He submitted that Shehbaz Sharif remained in the bureaucustody but the money laundering case was not initiated at that time.
At this stage, Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem asked the petitioner’scounsel Azam Nazir Tarar to start his arguments.
However, the counsel submitted that the grounds of arrest wereimportant as he could not proceed further in its absence.The bench asked the NAB prosecutor why the bureau wanted to arrestShehbaz Sharif.
The prosecutor stated that investigations were in progress in themoney laundering case while submitting warrants for arrest of ShehbazSharif. He submitted that Shehbaz had properties abroad but he failedto disclose their sources. He submitted that Shehbaz Sharif had toldthe bureau that he would provide details after his visit abroad.
However, Shehbaz Sharif stated that the bureau officials had told himthat the investigations had been completed to his extent.At this, Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem asked the petitioner’s counsel tostart his arguments, adding that the court would seek grounds ofarrest and reply, if it considered necessary.
Shehbaz Sharif’s counsel Advocate Amjad Pervaiz stated that the NABPunjab director general approved an inquiry into 56 public sectorcompanies illegally while using the NAB chairman powers. He submittedthat Shehbaz Sharif appeared before the bureau in Ashiana housinginquiry despite being chief minister Punjab and got recorded hisstatement.
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He stated that the bureau launched investigations into Ramzan SugarMills case on July 4, 2018 and then Shehbaz Sharif was summoned inSaaf Pani case, but he was arrested in Ashiana Housing case.He stated that the bureau had launched investigations against Shehbazin assets beyond means case in January 2018 whereas It received aFinancial Monitoring Unit report regarding suspected transactions onOct 23, 2018.
He submitted that the Lahore High Court granted bail to Shehbaz Sharifin Ashiana and Ramzan Sugar Mills cases in February 2019 but his namewas included in the exit control list which was later removed on thedirections of the high court. He questioned why NAB did notinvestigate Shehbaz Sharif in assets beyond the means case whereas hewas in its custody.
He submitted that Shehbaz Sharif appeared before the bureau in assetsbeyond means and money laundering inquiry on being summoned. He statedthat the bureau had on June 2 summoned Shehbaz Sharif whereas theLahore High Court granted interim bail to him on June 3. He statedthat the NAB chairman had issued arrest warrants for Shehbaz Sharif onMay 28 but the same was not disclosed .He submitted that his clientwas regularly appearing in the Lahore High Court and accountabilitycourt.
At this stage, the court adjourned the matter till Sept 22 and askedthe petitioner’s counsel to continue his arguments on the next date ofhearing.
Shehbaz Sharif, through his petition, submitted that the bureau hadlaunched an investigation against him over charges of assets beyondmeans and money laundering. Shehbaz Sharif submitted that he extendedfull cooperation with NAB authorities and appeared before theinvestigation team on being summoned. He submitted that he extendedfull cooperation and furnished all record. He expressed apprehensionthat the bureau might arrest him. He pleaded with the court for grantof pre-arrest bail in the case.
The NAB had also filed a reference against Shehbaz Sharif familybefore an accountability court in the money laundering case.Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza Shehbaz, Salman Shehbaz, Nusrat Shehbaz, RabiaImran, Javeria Ali, Nisar Ahmad Ali, Ahmad Khan, Syed Muhammad TahirNaqvi, Qasim Qayyum, Rashid, Masroor Anwar, Muhammad Usman, Fazal Dad,Muhammad Shoaib Qamar, Haroon Yousaf Zai have been named accused inthe reference comprising of 55 volumes.According to the reference, the whole family committed massive moneylaundering of Rs 7 billion. Yasir Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmad, ShahidRafique and Aftab were made approvers in the reference
