LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has dismissed for non-prosecution a petition by former accountability czar Mirza Shahzad Akbar challenging the acquittal of Suleman Shehbaz and others in a Rs16 billion money laundering case.

The case was lodged by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) during the government of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

“The case has repeatedly been called in the name of Mr M Haroon Ilyas Advocate, learned counsel for the petitioner, but no one appeared on behalf of the petitioner to pursue the instant petition,” said an order of May 21 issued by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum.

The chief justice observed that apparently the petitioner had lost interest in pursuing the petition.

“Therefore, instant petition stands dismissed for want of prosecution,” the order concluded.

Mr Akbar had filed the petition in 2023 after a special court acquitted Suleman Shehbaz and 14 other suspects.

In its verdict, the trial court had also ordered the establishment division secretary to initiate action against Shahzad Akbar and FIA officials for launching a frivolous and baseless prosecution against the suspects.

The court had noted that the joint investigation team (JIT) members and the FIA DG failed to win sympathies of the court and now stern action would be taken against those responsible.

Other officials included FIA former DG Sanaullah Abbasi, IO Ali Mardan, then Deputy Directors Umayad Arshad Butt, Ahsan Ali Hani Bajwa and Munazzah Shaheen.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his other son Hamza Shehbaz were already acquitted in the case in 2022.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2025