LAHORE: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif categorically denied allegations of money laundering on Saturday, telling the court that he had never received his salary, TA, and DA from the national kitty, which amounts to around Rs70 to Rs80 million, and asked if he would launder just Rs2.5 million.
The prime minister made the remarks as the Central-I Special Court resumed hearings in a Rs16 billion money laundering case against PM Shehbaz Sharif, his son Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz, and others.
Strict security measures were implemented, and the court’s premises were evacuated prior to the arrival of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz.
During the proceedings, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif stated, “In this case, I am accused of laundering Rs2.5 million.” The premier claimed his family had suffered Rs2 billion in losses, but he refused to provide subsidies to sugar mills. After being granted permission by the judge, he and CM Hamza Shahbaz left the courtroom.
‘A politically motivated case,’
Amjad Pervaiz, counsel for PM Shahbaz Sharif, argued at the start of today’s hearing that the Rs16 billion money laundering case was “politically motivated” and “based on mala fide intentions” because the PTI government wanted to imprison his client.
The special court issued an arrest warrant for Suleman Shehbaz, the son of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during the last hearing on May 21. It also extended the deadline for Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shahbaz to pay their interim bail until May 28. According to Amjad Pervaiz, the prime minister has nothing to do with the accounts opened or closed in the last ten years. However, Amjad Pervaiz argued that the prosecution bears the burden of proof in the case.
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