The indictment of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz, in Rs16 billion money laundering case, was deffered once again on Saturday as the newly appointed prosecutor sought time for preparation.
It is pertinent to mention here that the special court in Lahore had summoned PM Shehbaz Sharif and his son for their indictment in the case but the duo did not appear before the court.
Earlier, charges could not be framed against the suspects in the money laundering case on April 11 and April 27 due to their absence from the courtroom.
At the outset of the hearing, Mohammad Amjad Pervaiz, Shehbaz Sharif’s counsel, apprised the court that the prime minister had to visit his doctor in the United Kingdom and was scheduled to visit UAE to offer his condolences over the demise of the country’s president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He pleaded with the court to grant him exemption from personal appearance. At this, the judge remarked that Shehbaz Sharif’s personal appearance was mandatory for his indictment in the case. Meanwhile, the FIA’s prosecutor said that they will not oppose the exemption from the court appearance on medical grounds. The prosecutor said that he himself needed time to prepare for the case.
Hamza Shehbaz, however, appeared before the court. As per the rules, the appearance of all the suspects, in any case, is compulsory for the indictment.
