Lahore court accepts Suleman's plea to submit arguments in money laundering case
Pakistan
FIA has cleared PM Shehbaz's son in the case over finding no evidence against him
LAHORE (Dunya News) – The special central court in the Punjab capita on Saturday accepted a petition filed by the Suleman Shahbaz to submit arguments on his acquittal plea in the Rs16 billion money laundering case.
The younger son of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appeared before the court when the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) submitted a new report in the case. In response, Suleman’s lawyer sought permission to submit arguments. The plea was accepted as the court directed him to submit his arguments on March 4.
On Jan 21, the FIA investigators submitted a challan in the special court central during the hearing of a bail plea filed by the son of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. According to the challan, the suspects Suleman and Tahir Naqvi were not involved in receiving kickbacks and had no link with the case, the judge remarked.
After reviewing the challan, the judge asked the suspects if they wanted to withdraw their bail petitions. To which, they took back the pleas for pre-arrest bail in the money-laundering case.
The development came days after Suleman Shehbaz appeared before an investigation team in the FIR 39/2020 related to the Ramzan Sugar Mills and benami accounts to submit his reply. Last year, the special court had acquitted PM Shehbaz and his elder son, Hamza Shehbaz, in this case registered against them in November 2020.
Read More: Salman Shehbaz returns to Pakistan after four years
The special central court declared Suleman Shehbaz a perpetual proclaimed offender in July last due to his continued absence from court proceedings.However, he secured a bail from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in December 2022 and reached back Pakistan after ending his four-year self-exile.
