Court issues order to freeze assets of Shehbaz

PML-N president, family can file objections to decision within two weeks

LAHORE: An accountability court on Wednesday ordered authorities to freeze all assets belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and nine of his family members.

Lahore’s Accountability Court Judge Chaudhry Amir Muhammad Khan passed the order on request of the country’s top anti-graft watchdog – National Accountability Bureau (NAB) – which lodged and ‘assets beyond means’ case against Shehbaz and his family members.

Shehbaz – also leader of opposition in the National Assembly – and other accused can file objections to the court’s decision within two weeks.

NAB had earlier filed 15 requests in the court to freeze the assets of Punjab former chief minister and his family members. According to NAB, at least 23 properties were found under the name of Shehbaz, his wives and his sons in different places in the country

The properties include nine plots in Lahore’s Johar Town, four in Judicial Colony, two houses in Model Town and two houses in the city’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA). Other properties include a 9-kanal house in Dunga Galli of Abbotabad, two villas and a plot at Pir Sohawa and 2 plots in Chiniot.

Two weeks earlier, NAB had also sought freezing industries belonging to family members of Shehbaz. These included Chiniot Power Limited, Ramzan Energy Limited, Al-Arabia Sugar Mills, Crystal Plastics Private Limited, Sharif Dairy Farms Private Limited and Sharif Poultry Farms Private Limited.

During the hearing on Wednesday, NAB special prosecutor Hafiz Asadullah Awan, alleged that Shehbaz Sharif had made properties worth billions of rupees through money laundering.

“Investigation against Shehbaz Sharif and his family are under way with regards to assets beyond income case and money laundering. Therefore, assets of Shehbaz, his wives and his sons should be confiscated,” he said.

Shehbaz Sharif was arrested in October last year due to alleged irregularities in award of contract of a low cost housing project, the Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Society during his tenure as Punjab chief minister.

Shehbaz during NAB’s probe into housing society case had told the graft-buster’s combined investigations team (CIT) that his financial matters were being looked after by his son Suleman Shahbaz. NAB had later established a committee to investigate into Suleman’s financial dealings.

According to NAB, its financial monitoring unit reportedly observed shady transactions that later on were found to be linked to Sharif family. When the money trail was followed, it was revealed – NAB claimed – that the Sharif family was involved in money laundering also.

The graft buster said it also made few arrests and the suspects also confessed to doing money laundering for the family. A few accused, whose role was established as accomplices, were now jail.

However, the majority of members of Shehbaz Sharif family including prime accused Suleman Shahbaz and Shahbaz Sharif were either on bail or are out of the country.