Hamza moves apex court for early hearing of bail plea

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shahbaz has filed an application in the Supreme Court for an hearing of his bail application, saying that there was little progress in his trial in the relevant accountability court.

Hamza Shahbaz contended that he is in jail for past one year and seven months, adding that there are 110 witnesses in the reference against him filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), while only 3 of them have testified.

He said in the petition that the reference against him was pending in the trial court but no progress was being made in his trial. Therefore, he requested the apex court to grant early hearing of his plea for bail.

In November last year, an accountability court in Lahore had indicted Hamza Shahbaz, his father and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif and other family members in assets beyond means and money-laundering reference.

NAB had nominated former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif, his wife Nusrat Shahbaz, sons Hamza and Suleman Shahbaz, daughters Rabia Imran and Javeria Ali in the reference.

On Wednesday the accountability court heard the money laundering case against the Shehbaz Sharif family and summoned two more prosecution witnesses for recording their statements on the next date of hearing on January 12.

Accountability Judge Syed Jawadul Hassan presided over proceedings, while the jail authorities produced Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz in the court amid strict security.

During the proceedings, the court recorded the statement of NAB witness, Malik Ibrahim, an officer of the Inland Revenue Department. The witness also produced a record of assets of the Shehbaz Sharif family from 1980 to 2001.

Speaking in the court, Shehbaz Sharif apprised the judge of various steps taken by him in the Chiniot minerals and mines case. However, the court stopped him from talking about the Chiniot case, observing that the matter was not pending with his court.

The court also issued notices to NAB for January 8 on an application filed by Shehbaz Sharif for formation of a medical board for his treatment. Subsequently, the court adjourned further proceedings till January 12.

The NAB had nominated 16 persons as accused in the case. However, only 10, had been indicted so far. NAB had alleged that Shehbaz Sharif family committed massive money laundering of Rs7 billion. It added that four people had made approvers in the reference.

In the court, Accountability Judge Amjad Nazir Chaudhry issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran Ali Yousaf and Rabia Imran, son-in-law and daughter of Shehbaz Sharif in the Saaf Pani corruption case.

A NAB prosecutor informed the court that accused Imran Ali Yousaf and Rabia Imran had been summoned many times, but they had failed to join the investigations. The prosecutor requested the court to issue their arrest warrants.

NAB had alleged that the former chief executive officer of the Saaf Pani Company made illegal payment of Rs24.7 million. NAB also alleged that the accused purchased water filtration plants at exorbitant rates.

(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP)