LAHORE: A special court on Friday declared the prime minister’s younger son, Suleman Shehbaz, a proclaimed offender (PO) along with another suspect in a Rs16 billion money-laundering case.

Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz, who was also booked by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in the case, earlier appeared before the court, while a one-time exemption from personal appearance was sought on behalf of PM Shehbaz.

Presiding judge Ijaz Hassan Awan allowed the application, with directions to the prime minister to ensure his appearance before the special court (central-I) at the next hearing, fixed for July 30.

At the hearing, the investigating officer apprised the court that the process had been completed to declare Suleman and Tahir Naqvi proclaimed offenders, because both suspects failed to respond to the summons.

The judge declared them POs and directed the IO to submit details of moveable and immoveable assets, owned by the suspects, to be frozen.

The judge further asked the FIA to submit a death certificate and other evidence about the death of another absconding suspect, Malik Maqsood Ahmad, a peon in the Ramzan Sugar Mills.

Earlier on June 11, the court had confirmed the interim pre-arrest bail of PM Shehbaz and CM Hamza in the money laundering case. The FIA had booked the PML-N president and his two sons, Hamza and Suleman, in November 2020 under Sections 419, 420, 468, 471, 34 and 109 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, read with Section 3/4 of Anti-Money Laundering Act.

The trial court had granted interim bail to Shehbaz and Hamza on June 21, 2021, a day before their first appearance at the FIA. The court is yet to indict the suspects, as arguments of the defence against the challan had not been completed.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2022