Shehbaz arrested after LHC dismisses bail plea

Shifts PML-N leader to NAB Lahore Office for further investigation into money laundering, assets case

LAHORE:

The country’s top graft buster on Monday arrested National Assembly Leader of Opposition Shehbaz Sharif after the Lahore High Court (LHC) dismissed his request for a pre-arrest bail in an asset beyond means and money laundering case.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials took Shehbaz, who is also the president of the PML-N, into their custody from the courtroom where a large number of PML-N supporters were present.

It was anticipated that the court would not extend interim bail of the Punjab former chief minister even at the last hearing of the case on September 24. However, the same division bench, headed by Justice Sardar Ahmed Naeem had gave him some relief by extending his interim bail till September 28 [Monday]

When the proceedings commenced on Monday, the petitioner’s counsel Azam Nazir Tarar argued that they could not understand why NAB wanted to arrest Shehbaz.

He said NAB has completed its investigation into the case; filed a reference case; delivered its copies to the respondents and an accountability court is all set to indict the PML-N leader.

Shehbaz’s second counsel, Amjad Pervez, argued that NAB is claiming that the assets of Shehbaz’s family have phenomenally increased. However, this increase in assets has taken place at a juncture when these members ceased to be depended upon the petitioner.

He said NAB prepared a reference consisting of 58 volumes but no substantial documentary evidence is available to establish Shehbaz Sharif’s guilt and the reference contains nothing but the investigation officer’s (IO) opinions.

“No statements of any witnesses and accused persons have been recorded under Section 161 and 164 the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Shehbaz Sharif was not summoned at that time when statements of ‘NAB approvers’ were recorded before magisterial court,” he argued.

An approver is a an accomplice to a crime being tried who gives evidence for the prosecution

He argued that it was difficult for NAB to establish its case against Shehbaz Sharif. Shehbaz Sharif is answerable for his doings but not for his children.

When the bench granted him permission to speak, Shehbaz Sharif presented a short overview of the projects he initiated and services he “rendered to the nation” while in power. He claimed he had saved over Rs1,000 billion of the country by adopting better policies during his tenure as Punjab chief minister.

“I worked hard for the nation and protected the national exchequer. I am not an angle but I have been donating my salary to Ghulab Devi Hospital. NAB may very well investigate but it cannot find any corruption even if it is given 2.5 centuries [to investigate,” the PML-N leader claimed.

NAB’s prosecutor Faisal Raza Bukhari in his arguments contended that on January 12, 2018 suspicious transactions were noted by the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) in Shehbaz family’s bank accounts.

On October 23, 2018, NAB chairman approved an inquiry into these transactions under Section 9 of NAB Ordinance. He argued that the citations that Shehbaz’s counsels presented had already been discussed in detail in the Mir Shakilur Rehman case but even then “his (Mir Shakil’s) bail was dismissed”.

Citing “Murad Arshad” and “Rasool Khan” cases, he argued that the country’s top court had set aside the decisions of the lower courts to grant bails to NAB accused after filing of references.

He contended that Shehbaz Sharif’s family committed money laundering of over Rs3billions. Shehbaz Sharif’s assets were worth Rs2.212 million in 1990 but increased to Rs7.32 billion in 2018.

He owns 11 industrial units and 4 benami companies, the prosecutor claimed. He said Shehbaz Sharif and co-accused Mushtaq Cheeni obtained a bogus loan of Rs603 million.

The prosecutor said Shehbaz’s son Suleman Shehbaz’s declared income was Rs11,86,725 in 1995 but the assets increased speedily in 2008 when Shehbaz Sharif was Punjab chief minister.

“How Suleman could be able to make assets when he was quite young?

“The 96-H model town’s plot was purchased with bogus telegraphic transfers (TTs), later the same was declared the CM office and all expenditure were borne by the national exchequer,” he added.

He said Shehbaz and his family committed money laundering through different companies.

“The income of Rs124 million was mentioned but no source of this income was disclosed. Shehbaz claimed his family purchased flats in foreign countries through loan but no documentary evidence was presented,” he added

After hearing the arguments, the division bench dismissed Shehbaz’s request for a pre-arrest bail.

The petitioner’s counsel Azam Nazir Tarar later told the court that they were withdrawing the bail petition. The court dismissed the bail as withdrawn.

Petitioner’s bail

Shehbaz Sharif in his pre-arrest bail petition contended that the power of arrest is permissive and not obligatory and the arrest is not desirable even in most heinous offences so long as accused cooperates and keeps joining the investigation.

He said he started business in 1972 and played its vital role in agriculture, sugar, textile industry. For the betterment of the country, he started politics on 1988. He said NAB has subjected him to victimization and started inquiry against him under the influence of the PTI led federal government.

NAB arrested him on 2018 in asset beyond means case but failed to provide any substantial evidence. NAB could not apply its powers under anti-money laundering act during the inquiry. He said he has apprehension over being arrested by the NAB so he kindly be granted bail.

NAB’s Reply

In the previous proceedings, NAB had submitted its reply opposing the pre-arrest bail of Shehbaz Sharif. NAB had contended that there is a sufficient incriminating material available on record that connects the petitioner Shehbaz Sharif with the commission of offences of corruption and corrupt practices.

Denying the version of Shehbaz Sharif in his par-arrest bail in assets beyond means and money laundering cases, NAB asked the court that Shehbaz Sharif’s par-arrest bail might be dismissed.