Pakistan
NAB challenges Hamza Shahbaz bail in Supreme court
The country’s top anti-graft body on Monday moved the Supreme Court seeking the cancellation of bail granted to PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz in the money laundering case.
In a petition filed, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has challenged Lahore High Court (LHC) decision to grant bail to PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz in the top court.
According to details, a petition has been filed in the Apex court seeking annulment of the Lahore High Court's February 24 decision seeking cancellation of PML-N leader's bail.
The anti-graft body took a stand in the petition that the Lahore High Court ignored the facts while granting bail to Hamza Shahbaz.
Further, the petition states that the bail is hampering the NAB inquiry and the decision of the LHC cannot be upheld while keeping in view the law of land.
Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shahbaz was released from Kot Lakh Pat jail on February 27.
On February 24, 2021, the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered to release of Hamza Shahbaz from jail.
The verdict was announced by a two-member bench headed by Justice Sarfraz Dogar and comprising Justice Asjad Javed.
The court, while approving the bail plea of the opposition leader in the provincial assembly, ordered to submit two indemnity bonds worth one million each.
Background
On June 11, 2019, The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had arrested the Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz from the premises of Lahore High Court (LHC) in connection with money laundering and holding assets beyond means.
On February 11, 2020, LHC rejected Hamza Shahbaz's bail plea in illegal assets and money laundering cases.
The anti-corruption watchdog filed a money laundering reference against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif, Hamza Shahbaz, Salman Shabaz and other family members in the accountability court on August 17, 2020.
On August 20, 2020, an accountability court of Lahore approved the money laundering reference for a hearing against Shahbaz Sharif and his family.
On September 28, 2020, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif was taken into custody after Lahore High Court (LHC) rejected his bail plea in connection with a money laundering case.
Shabaz Sharif was previously arrested on October 05, 2018, in connection with Ramzan Sugar Mills and Ashiana Housing Scheme cases.
On November 11, 2020, Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz Sharif were indicted in a money-laundering reference by the accountability court.
About the reference
NAB has accused the Sharif family of accumulating assets worth Rs. 7,328 million, in the last 30 years without justifying the means of income.
The accountability bureau has nominated 20 people in the reference including Shahbaz Sharif’s wife Nusrat, his sons Hamza and Suleman, and daughters Rabia Imran and Javeria Ali. Suleman Shahbaz and his sister Rabia Imran have been declared proclaimed offenders in the case already.
NAB has accused the former chief minister of committing corruption by involving his family members, front men, employees, close fellows and moneychangers. The anti-graft watchdog further alleged that the PML-N President created an organized system of money-laundering formulated fake sources of income to justify the assets acquired beyond known sources of income.
As per NAB, the corruption falls under the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 and money laundering as outlined in the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2010.
The other nominated accused in the case are Nisar Ahmad, Ali Muhammad Khan, Muhammad Shoaib Qamar, Qasim Qayyum, Syed Muhammad Tahir Naqvi, Masroor Anwer, Muhammad Usman, Rashid Karamat, Fazal Dad Abbasi and Haroon Yousafzai.