Judge unhappy over ‘slow’ FIA probe against Shehbaz

A banking court judge on Saturday expressed his displeasure over the FIA’s “slow” investigation in a money laundering case involving Rs25 billion against PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz.

The court also extended the pre-arrest bails of the opposition leader in the National Assembly and his son until September 25.

At one point, the judge reprimanded the FIA after he asked about the current status of the agency’s investigation.

The FIA investigation officer tried to elaborate on what sort of investigation the agency had conducted.

The official told the court that some accounts had been opened and dubious transactions were made through those accounts.

The official’s statement irked Shehbaz, who argued that the FIA had submitted a copy of the NAB case already filed against him and his son.

The judge told Shehbaz that if thought that the NAB and FIA cases were the same, then he should appeal before a higher court.

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Shehbaz replied that he was planning to file an appeal.

He implored the court that he had no ties with the Ramzan Sugar Mill case.

Dissatisfied with the investigation, the banking court judge asked the FIA as to what extra work had the agency done during two months.

He added that if examined, only four lines were found that the FIA had mentioned in the investigation.

Shehbaz implored the court that he had been kept in jail twice, the relevant authority had completed its investigation but he was at a loss to understand why the same matter was being probed.

The banking court judge directed the FIA to come up with a development report on the investigation by September 25.

The judge directed the officials of FIA to ask Dr Rizwan, the head of the investigation team, to appear in person at the next hearing to update the court regarding the developments in the investigation.

Hamza told the court that an FIA team had visited him in jail for questioning. He added that the FIA wanted to arrest him now after his release. The judge directed him to cooperate with the agency in the investigation.