LAHORE: Hearing a money laundering reference against the family of Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif, an accountability court on Thursday issued warrants for the arrest of his absconding son, Suleman Shahbaz, and son-in-law Haroon Yousaf Aziz.

The court also issued summons to Shahbaz’s wife Nusrat and daughters Rabia Imran and Javeria Ali.

Mr Shahbaz appeared before the court amid strict security arrangements made by the police outside the judicial complex. A large number of PML-N workers also made it to the complex despite the roads were blocked by erecting barricades and barbed wires.

Inside the crowded courtroom, the leader of the opposition said he had not committed corruption of a single penny. He said during his tenure as chief minister he brought foreign investment of billions of rupees.

“Judge Sahib, I swear to God that I have not caused any damage to public money,” said Mr Shahbaz.

Presiding Judge Jawadul Hassan asked Shahbaz not to worry if he had not done any wrong as the court would decide the case as per law.

“I have complete faith in Allah and this court,” said the PML-N president.

The judge let Shahbaz go after the staff marked his attendance in the case.

Responding to media queries outside the court, Shahbaz said the government was doing politics on the health of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

After a while, the jail officials brought Shahbaz’s son Hamza to the court.

A NAB prosecutor told the court that Shahbaz’s wife Nusrat, son Suleman, daughters Rabia and Javeria and son-in-law Haroon Aziz had not joined the investigation.

He said Suleman had already been declared an absconder.

At this, the judge issued arrest warrants for Suleman and Haroon while summoned female members of the Shahbaz’s family through notices. Hearing was adjourned till Sept 10.

Later, Shahbaz and Hamza appeared before another accountability court for the hearing of Ramzan Sugar Mills reference against them.

The court was informed that the lead defence counsel, Advocate Amjad Pervez, was not available due to summer vacation in the high court. His associate requested the court to adjourn the hearing.

Presiding Judge Amjad Nazir Chaudhry deferred the hearing till Sept 10 and directed the NAB to present its witnesses.

The court on Aug 6 last indicted them in a supplementary reference of the sugar mills while they were first indicted in the same case during April 2019.

In a statement issued to the media by the PML-N, Suleman Shahbaz, who is out of the country, said Prime Minister Imran Khan was burning in the fire of vengeance.

He said even female members of the family were being subjected to political victimisation.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2020