'Will lodge case against Imran, Shahzad Akbar if something happens to me’

Court takes exception to complaint, calls for respecting Shehbaz as he was a former chief minister of Punjab

LAHORE:

Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said he would register a case against Prime Minister Imran Khan and his adviser Shahzad Akbar if something happend to his back, or if he dies.

This was stated by the PML-N president during a hearing of the money laundering and assets beyond means cases registered against him and his family members.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) produced the PML-N leader and his son Hamza Shehbaz in court.

An accountability court had remanded the PML-N president in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for two weeks to allow the top graft-buster to probe into the money laundering and assets beyond means case.

During the hearing, Shehbaz complained to the court, saying "everyone knows I have a back [thoracic] problem. I take support from a chair to change my direction whilst offering prayers. On October 1 and 2, they refused to help me. Earlier, they used to give me food on the table, now they deliberately put it on the ground so that I have to bend down. ”

Shehbaz implored that the authorities did so on the behest of PM Imran and Adviser to Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Mirza Shahzad Akbar.

Expressing severe displeasure on the complaint, the court remarked that Shehbaz, being the former chief minister of Punjab, should be respected.

“This is unacceptable that food is kept on the ground,” the court said. “There should be no such complaints in the future. If the supervisor visits, it will be said that the judge has gone to meet him,” the judge added.

The court was also informed that accused, Hamza, had recovered from Covid-19.

Talking to the media before his appearance in the court, Shehbaz said that the party would fight the "NAB- Niazi nexus". However, he was swiftly interrupted by NAB officials, who did not allow the PML-N president to speak to media in the courtroom.

During the hearing, the Foreign Office submitted a report in the court that stated that Suleman Shehbaz’s arrest warrants had not been received by anyone in the United Kingdom

Last week, NAB arrested the PML-N leader after the Lahore High Court (LHC) dismissed a petition seeking extension in his bail.