Money laundering case: FIA withdraws trial against PM, CM Punjab

Lahore: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Thursday has decided not to further pursue Rs16 billion money laundering case against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz and others. 

The FIA has decided not to prosecute Shehbaz Sharif and his sons, Hamza and Suleman, in the money laundering case three days before a special Lahore court was scheduled to frame charges against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders.  

Special Judge Central Aijaz Hasan led the hearing today and issued the written order at the request of the agency's prosecutor and also made the request by the FIA prosecution team a part of the case record.  

As per the written application submitted in court, the FIA director general (DG) asked Special Prosecutor Sikander Zulqarnain Saleem not to appear in court, through an investigation officer—directing him to leave the case as the "accused in the case are going to be elected the prime minister of Pakistan and chief minister of Punjab".  

However, the court has decided to continue the trial despite the agency’s decision, directing Prime Minister, Punjab CM and other accused to appear before the court on May 14. 

The order directs both PML-N leaders to ensure their attendance on the next hearing for indictment.

The special court had on January 27 granted pre-arrest bail to Shehbaz and Hamza in the case. 

They were booked by FIA in November 2020 under Sections 419, 420, 468, 471, 34 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and 5(2) and 5(3) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and r/w 3/4 of Anti Money Laundering Act. 

Fourteen others had also been named in the FIR under sections 5(2) and 5(3) (criminal misconduct) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.