LAHORE:A special court on Monday summoned Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz(PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif, his son Hamza Shehbaz, and others forindictment in money-laundering and sugar scam on April 11. The court alsodismissed an application, filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)for bail cancellation of Shehbaz Sharif in the matter.
Special Judge Central Ejaz Hussain Awan conducted the proceedings on thecase, wherein Hamza Shehbaz appeared and got his attendance marked. Acounsel for Shehbaz Sharif submitted an exemption application, pleadingwith the court to exempt his client from personal appearance for one-daydue to his engagements in the Supreme Court.
However, the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) prosecutor opposed theplea and submitted that the apex court had not summoned Shehbaz Sharif inpersonal capacity.
To which, the counsel replied that Shehbaz Sharif as head of the PML-Nwould file a petition in the apex court on Monday. While referring to theplea for bail cancellation of Shehbaz Sharif, the prosecutor argued thatthe accused was lingering the matter as he remained absent on manyoccasions from the court on pretext of ailment or political engagements. Hesubmitted that such actions were absolutely not justified and a mockery ofthe law.
He submitted that the accused remained absent from the court on the lasthearing, March 25, and filed an application for exemption from personalappearance, which was accepted by the court. He submitted that the reliefwas illegal and pleaded with the court to recall interim bail orders ofShehbaz Sharif.
Read Top Stories
However, the counsel, Amjad Pervaiz, argued that his client was oppositionleader in the National Assembly and as per superior courts judgments.assembly members could be exempted from personal appearance to attend thesession. He pleaded for dismissal of FIA’s application. Another counsel fora co-accused, Usman, also advanced his final arguments against jurisdictionof the court to hear the matter.
The court, after hearing detailed arguments of the parties, reserved itsverdict on the applications against jurisdiction of the court and bailcancellation of Shehbaz Sharif. Later, the court dismissed bothapplications and summoned Shehbaz Sharif and other accused for indictmenton April 11. The court also allowed the exemption application of ShehbazSharif for Monday.
Shehbaz Sharif had obtained interim bail from the court in money launderingand sugar scam. However. the FIA had filed an application for cancellationof the bail as he remained absent from the court on March 25.