FIA to not pursue money laundering case against PM Shehbaz, Hamza

Court issues written order, makes request by FIA legal team part of case record

ISLAMABAD:

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has decided to not pursue the money laundering case against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and others.

Special Court Judge Ijaz Hassan Awan on Thursday issued the written order at the request of the agency's prosecutor and also made the request by the FIA prosecution team a part of the case record.

Shehbaz and his sons -- Hamza and Suleman -- were booked by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in November 2020 under Sections 419, 420, 468, 471, 34 and 109 of the PPC and 5(2) and 5(3) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and r/w 3/4 of Anti Money Laundering Act.

Fourteen others were also named in the FIR under Sections 5(2) and 5(3) (criminal misconduct) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, read with 3/4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Read More: PM may be indicted in money laundering case on May 1

The written order issued by the court states that following the previous hearing of the case on April 11, FIA Special Prosecutor Sikandar Zulqarnain filed a petition of 'no interest' in the trial.

Zulqarnain further stated that DG FIA had asked the investigating officer to not appear in the case against the premier.

“The concerned FIA officials show no interest in the trial against Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza Shahbaz and others,” the prosecutor prayed.