New approver emerges in money laundering case

LAHORE: Another accused in the money laundering case against Hamza Shahbaz and his family has agreed to become an approver in the case.

Yasir Mushtaq, the son of Mushtaq Chini, recorded his statement before a magistrate in Lahore.

Meanwhile, a statement of Mushtaq Chini also surfaced in which he revealed several facts. He said they dealt in the sugar business when he met the chief financial officer of the Sharif companies; Salman Shahbaz. An employee of the family contacted him and asked for help in whitening the black money worth Rs690 million which he refused. He alleged that later on, the same employee convinced him that only his account would be used for the transfer of amount. He agreed on the pretext of an old relationship.

He also could not refuse him because he was the nephew of the then prime minister of Pakistan. In 2014, his account was used for TT (telegraphic transfer) of Rs214 million. When the amount was transferred into his account, he issues cheques in the name of Salman Shahbaz. The cheques were handed over to Usman. In the same year, he also issued another TT for Rs293 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2019.