LAHORE: A special court (offences in bank) on Tuesday extended pre-arrest bail of Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz in the money laundering and sugar scam inquiry while their counsel resumed arguments on the court’s jurisdiction.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had questioned the jurisdiction of the court to hold the trial in the case.

Defence counsel Amjad Pervez argued that it was illogical on the part of the FIA to challenge the jurisdiction of the court after filing the challan (investigation report) under Section 173 of the CrPC. He pointed out that the FIA had initially filed the challan before the court of special judge (central); however, he returned the same. He said the prosecution could raise the point of the court’s jurisdiction after the indictment of the suspects.

The counsel further argued that the FIA was bound to complete the inquiry within three months but it kept the process pending for over 13 months. He said the agency had filed the challan after 14 months and that too was incomplete.

Judge displeased at delay in completion of probe by FIA

Presiding Judge Tahir Sabir also expressed displeasure over the delay in completion of the investigation and observed that it seemed the FIA had no one to govern it.

The FIA director claimed that the record of the case was massive as even a truck would not be enough to lift it.

Shehbaz also sought permission from the court to speak in his defence. However, the judge told the opposition leader that he would be given an ample opportunity of hearing on his turn.

Shehbaz quickly said the allegations against him were fabricated and based on lies. He said the FIA had failed to produce any amount received in his personal bank account.

The judge adjourned the hearing till Jan 14 for further arguments on the point of the court’s jurisdiction. The judge also extended the pre-arrest bail of Shehbaz and Hamza till the next hearing.

The FIA had challenged the jurisdiction of the special court to hold trial in the inquiry wherein a challan had also been filed by it.

The FIA had booked Shehbaz and his sons, Hamza and Suleman, in November 2020 under sections 419, 420, 468, 471, 34 and 109 – financial fraud, impersonation and forgery — of the PPC and 5(2) and 5(3) — criminal misconduct — of Prevention of Corruption Act and r/w 3/4 of Anti Money Laundering Act. Suleman Shehbaz is absconding in the UK.

REACTION: PML-N secretary information Marriyum Aurangzeb on Tuesday called for officially declaring Prime Minister Imran Khan and his special assistant Shahzad Akbar missing along with their trucks and chests of so-called proofs against Shehbaz Sharif.

She said the brochures and advertisements should be run announcing the missing status of Mr Khan and Mr Akbar after their nonstop rants of the presence of tonnes of evidence. She said they, once again, miserably failed to produce a single proof against Shehbaz in the court during the hearing on Tuesday.

Ms Aurangzeb said it was a matter of great shame for both Imran Khan and Shahzad Akbar that even after the passage of 16 months, the FIA could not submit its investigation report.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2022