NAB conducts unsuccessful raid in Model Town to arrest Hamza Shahbaz

NAB conducted raid on house in Model Town without search warrants.

LAHORE (Dunya News) – The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday conducted an unsuccessful raid at the Model Town residence of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif to arrest his son and Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz for involvement in money laundering.

According to NAB, the team has evidence and arrest warrant against Hamza. The security guards stopped the team outside the house after which harsh words were exchanged.

Afterwards, the officials left without arresting anyone due to severe resistance by the guards.

Money laundring allegations

NAB sources revealed that Hamza Shahbaz had declared property worth 2 crore in 2003 while his assets grew 2000 percent during the PML-N government. The opposition leader had illegally laundered 85 billions abroad, the sources told.  The officials claimed that they have already detained Sharif family‘s facilitators while more arrests are also likely. 

Hamza Shahbaz talks to media

Talking to media, Hamza Shahbaz condemned the operation and said the way NAB raided our house made us feel that we are terrorists. I always appear whenever court or NAB summon. NAB team has gone against the decision of Lahore High Court (LHC) by coming to arrest me like a ‘superman’, he said. Hamza said Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan did politics on my ailing daughter. Court had allowed me to travel abroad for the treatment of my daughter. We are standing with the nation. Lies and fake promises of the incumbent government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will soon dissolve it, he concluded.

Reactions of PML-N leaders

PML-N Spokesman Malik Ahmed Khan claimed that the officials of anti-corruption watchdog conducted the raid at 96-H Model Town house without search warrant which is against the law. He said that the incumbent government has turned entire country into a police state. Meanwhile, PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb condemned the NAB raid and said that NAB didn’t inform prior to conducting the operation. Earlier, NAB had decided to file a reference against Hamza Shahbaz for his alleged role being chief executive of the Ramzan Sugar Mills to construct a bridge facilitating his mills out of the public money in Chiniot. Hamza Shahbaz is also facing assets beyond income case and Saaf Pani Scandal.