Special court set to indict Pakistan PM Shahbaz, his son on Sept.7 in Rs16b money laundering case

A special court in Lahore on Saturday fixed Sept.7 for the indictment of Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, his son Hamza Shahbaz, and others, for their alleged involvement in the laundering of Rs16 billion in the sugar scam case.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) booked Shahbaz and his sons Hamza and Suleman in November 2021 under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Anti Money Laundering Act, Geo News reported. Suleman Shahbaz is absconding in the UK.

During the hearing on Saturday, property details of Suleman, who was declared a proclaimed offender in the multi-billion-rupee money laundering case, were submitted in the court, Geo News reported.

Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif and Hamza were not present in court on Saturday.

As the proceedings commenced, the accused person's counsel submitted applications before the court on behalf of both accused seeking exemption from appearing before the court on medical grounds.

Hamza’s counsel informed the court that his client had 'severe back pain' while Shahbaz Sharif's lawyer said the prime minister remained absent due to inclement weather conditions and his doctors have advised him against travelling by road due to his health concerns.

The FIA prosecutor, Farooq Bajwa, did not object to the premier’s request but objected to his son’s plea for exemption. “The accused stopped appearing as soon as his bail was granted,” he said.

The lawyer also informed the court that the accused Maqsood Chaprasi’s death certificate had been submitted to the court and the “court ended the proceedings of the case to the extent of Malik Maqsood.”

It may be noted that the key witness in the money laundering case against Shahbaz and his family, popularly referred to as Maqsood Chaprasi, passed away due to a cardiac arrest earlier in June.

In December 2021, the FIA had submitted the challan against Shahbaz and Hamza before the special court for their alleged involvement in laundering an amount of Rs16 billion in the sugar scam case.

According to the FIA report submitted to the court, the investigation team has "detected 28 benami accounts of the Shahbaz family through which money laundering of 16.3 billion PKR was committed during 2008-18. The FIA examined the money trail of 17,000 credit transactions."

The report added that the amount was kept in "hidden accounts" and "given to Shehbaz in a personal capacity," Geo News reported.

This amount (Rs16 billion) has nothing to do with the sugar business (of Shahbaz family), it claimed.

The money received from the accounts of low-wage employees by Shahbaz was transferred outside Pakistan via hundi/hawala networks, ultimately destined for the beneficial use of his family members, the FIA had alleged.

"Eleven low-paid employees of the Sharif group who 'held and possessed' the laundered proceeds on behalf of the principal accused, are found guilty of facilitating money laundering. The three other co-accused of the Sharif group also actively facilitated the money laundering," the agency had said.