Court clears Nawaz, Shahbaz in money laundering case

Money laundering and illegal asset ownership reference was filed 14 years ago with a NAB court

RAWALPINDI: An accountability court acquitted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and other members of Sharif family of all charges pertaining to a money laundering and illegal asset ownership reference filed 14 years ago, Express News reported.

During a hearing on Friday at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court, Judge Anwar Ahmed termed the charges "politically motivated" while clearing the Sharif family of all charges pertaining to Hudaibiya Paper Mills, Raiwind Palace and the ownership of illegal assets.

The references were filed with the Attock NAB court in March 2000 have been pending in the Accountability Court, Rawalpindi.

The Sharif brothers were accused of misusing their authority and accumulating wealth beyond their means. Other Sharif family members accused in the case include Nawaz's brother, Abbas Sharif, Nawaz Sharif’s son Hussain Nawaz, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, his nephew Hamza Shahbaz, and his wife Kulsoom Nawaz.

A third reference was also filed against the Sharif family for willfully defaulting a bank loan regarding Ittefaq Foundry. A decision regarding acquittal in this case has yet to be made and the hearing of this case has been adjourned till October 2.