LHC extends Shehbaz Sharif’s interim bail till July 23

Scores of party supporters throng court premises to receive the PML-N president

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) extended on Thursday the interim bail of Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif till July 23.

Shehbaz had appeared before the court in the National Accountably Bureau’s (NAB’s) money laundering and assets beyond means case.

The PML-N leader was welcomed by a large number of party supporters, who remained outside the LHC premises till the hearing went on.

On July 14, NAB initiated more inquiries and investigations against a number of high-profile individuals, including Shehbaz Sharif and his brother, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

NAB issued a statement after its executive board meeting (EBM) that was chaired by Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, and attended by the watchdog’s senior officials – NAB deputy chairman, prosecutor general accountability and director-general operations.

According to the statement, the participants of the meeting approved starting ‘investigations’ against Nawaz and others. However, the statement did not elaborate on the allegations against the PML-N supreme leader, who has already been convicted for corruption by a NAB court.

NAB said the EBM also authorised inquiries against Shehbaz and former minister Sartaj Aziz – but again it did not explain their nature.

However, according to APP, the investigations and inquiries have been started against the PML-N leaders in view of their alleged misuse of authority.

The graft-buster also announced to close an investigation against Shehbaz, former secretary to Punjab chief minister Javed Mehmood, Lahore Development Authority former director general Ahad Khan Cheema, and others due to absence of evidence.