Hamza Shahbaz files bail plea in LHC in assets case
The PML-N leader has adopted the stance that the reference was filed 14 months after his arrest.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) member and Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz on Tuesday has filed a bail plea in Lahore High Court (LHC) in assets case.
According to details, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal and director general have been made parties in the petition.
The PML-N leader has adopted the stance that the reference was filed 14 months after his arrest. Putting any accused in jail for long time is equivalent to sentencing him before the trial, he added.
On June 11, the accountability watchdog had arrested Hamza in after LHC turned down his applications for extension in interim bail.
In the hearing on June 11, Salman Butt, the defense counsel for Hamza, had argued that according to the NAB ordinance, the bureau could not issue arrest warrants unless an inquiry over the matter was completed. To which, Justice Naqvi had remarked that the judgment would be done according to the constitution, and justice would be ensured.
The prosecutor had submitted complete details of assets of Shehbaz Sharif’s family members in the court with an argument that their assets were beyond their known sources of income.
“Billions of rupees were added to the assets of Shehbaz’s family, whereas Hamza couldn’t provide details of the sources of his income,” he added.
The bench was further told by the NAB that in the year 2018, his assets were found to be worth Rs410 million, whereas he could not prove assets worth Rs380 million, and the money was laundered to Dubai and England, and 40 individuals were involved in the money laundering.
