Pakistan court acquits PM Shehbaz's son in Rs 16 bn money laundering case

The Lahore Special Court on Monday acquitted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's son Suleman Shahbaz and all other accused named in the Federal Investigation Agency's Rs 16 billion money laundering case citing lack of evidence.

The special court here issued its order on pleas filed by Suleman and others accused in the case seeking their acquittal.

The prime minister's son was present alongside his counsel before the court at the time of the announcement, Geo News reported.

Suleman, who returned to Pakistan in December last year after a four-year self-exile in London, was not only accused in the case but was also named in an assets-beyond-means reference. He was declared a proclaimed offender in both cases.

Ahead of his arrival, the Islamabad High Court restrained both the FIA and NAB from arresting him.

The FIA, this January, cited a lack of proof and cleared him in the sugar mills case.

Meanwhile, the FIA has submitted the answers to the 27 questions related to the case in the court.

Hearing the case, the Lahore Court asked the FIA whether they had any incriminating evidence against Suleman and other accused in the case.

The JIT members reportedly informed Court that they were forced to file the case owing to pressure from Mirza Shahzad Akbar, former accountability czar.

Judge Bakht Fakhar Behzad inquired regarding those involved in the inquiry of the money laundering case.

FIA's lawyer told the court that the inquiry was conducted by a joint investigation team headed by a late FIA official.

The prosecutor said that there was no direct evidence and Suleman was declared accused in the light of the form used to open the account.

After the hearing, the court acquitted all the accused including Suleman in the money laundering case.