LAHORE: An accountability court on Tuesday adjourned for arguments the applications filed by Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif and his family members against freezing of their assets by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The lawyers on behalf of the Shahbaz’s family appeared before the court, while a report filed by the NAB stated that the assets had been frozen following cases of money laundering and illegal assets against the applicant and others.

The report said the assets of Mr Shahbaz and his family members were frozen with the court permission after the suspects failed to justify these in the NAB investigation.

The lawyers of the applicants urged the court to revisit its assets freezing order.

Presiding Judge Jawadul Hassan adjourned further hearing till Aug 27 when he would also resume hearing into theRs7 billion money laundering reference against the Shahbaz’s family.

Notices to all the suspects nominated in the reference had already been issued by the court.

A total of 20 persons had been nominated in the reference, including four approvers — Yasir Mushtaq, Muhammad Mushtaq, Shahid Rafiq and Aftab Mahmood.

The main suspects are Mr Shahbaz’s wife Nusrat Shahbaz, his sons Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz and Suleman Shahbaz (absconder), his daughters Rabia Imran and Javeria Ali.

Other suspects are alleged benamidars and business partners of the family,including Nisar Ahmad, Qasim Qayum, Rashid Karamat, Masroor Anwar, Fazal Dad Abbasi and Shoaib Qamar.

In this case Mr Shahbaz is on pre-arrest bail granted by the Lahore High Court, Mr Hamza is on judicial remand, while Suleman has been declared an absconder as he failed to return from London.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2020