A special court in Lahore acquitted Pakistani Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and his son, former Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, in a $73 million money-laundering case filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) under the Pakistan Penal Code, Anti-Corruption Act, and Anti-Money Laundering Act in November 2020.
FIA prosecutor Farooq Bajwa called for their conviction based on witness testimonies, including one given by Hamza’s trusted cashier, who had conducted transactions for him and his father. Bajwa claimed that the cashier had even conducted transactions from a deceased employee’s account.
Meanwhile, defence lawyer Amjad Pervez argued that there was insufficient evidence to convict the father-son duo. He accused the prosecutor of modifying witness statements and being motivated by ulterior political motives. Pervez stressed that the cases against Shehbaz and Hamza were clear examples of misuse of public institutions by the previous government.
Judge Ijaz Hassan Awan ruled that the FIA had failed to produce “concrete evidence,” noting that the statements given by 64 witnesses “do not spell out any bribery, kickbacks, or commission.”
Another fabricated case created for political victimisation comes to it's inevitable end Alhumdulillah. Verily, falsehood is bound to perish as promised by the Almighty. pic.twitter.com/wEHH2sMnad
— PML(N) (@pmln_org) October 12, 2022
Both Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza were not present at Wednesday’s hearing. However, supporters of Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party gathered outside the courthouse in anticipation of the judgement.
Celebrating the judgement, Sharif said that his acquittal proved that the case was “fabricated, baseless, and politically motivated.” He added, “We stand victorious in front of the court, the law and the people, despite [facing] heavy-handed tactics, oppression by the state and the manipulation of institutions.”
Blaming his predecessor, he said, “The nation's money was wasted, and the reputation of institutions was also damaged due to the cases lodged on Imran Khan's directions,”
Similarly, Hamza said they had “bravely” and “vigorously” fought the politically motivated cases filed by former PM Imran Khan.
Meanwhile, former PM Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party lamented the decision as a “slap in the nation’s face by the judicial system.”
Khan’s close aide, Fawad Hussain, criticised the Sharif government for “seeking funds for flood victims” even as they “looted billions of rupees.”
Likewise, Khan himself said that Shehbaz and his sons have gotten away with the “protection of handlers.”
The FIA first filed the case in 2020. Then, in December 2021, the FIA submitted a report to the special court that said that investigators had “detected 28 benami (without name) accounts of the Shehbaz family through which money laundering of Rs 16.3 billion ($73 million) was committed during 2008-18.” In total, the FIA investigated 17,000 credit transactions.
Its report argued that the amounts were transferred out of Pakistan from the accounts of low-level employees and then used by Shehbaz and his family. As a result, 11 Sharif family’s sugar business employees were convicted of money laundering.
No amount of lies can stop the naked flood of Truth. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz stand vindicated!
— Hina Parvez Butt (@hinaparvezbutt) October 12, 2022
Another case proved to be just a political vendetta against the Sharif family. Remember Sharifs can't be intimidated and can't be bowed down.#نواز_تجھے_سلام
Shehbaz Sharif’s other son, Suleman Shehbaz, is also a co-accused in the case and has been absconding in London. His trial will be conducted after he surrenders to Pakistani authorities.
Wednesday’s acquittal is the latest in a series of moves by the government to acquit party members who had been charged under the previous Khan government.
Towards the end of September, the Islamabad High Court also acquitted PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz and her husband Muhammad Safdar in the 2018 Avenfield apartment corruption case, which the court previously held was disproportionate to Nawaz Sharif’s declared income.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, a sessions court in Islamabad issued an arrest warrant against Khan for failing to appear before the court in a case filed for his disparaging comments against public officials and a female judge for their role in arresting and torturing his aide Shahbaz Gill.
He was also subject to anti-terror charges due to these comments, which the IHC later dismissed after raising concerns that allowing the case would “open a floodgate” of cases under anti-terrorism laws.
The incumbent Sharif government has also initiated an inquiry into Khan and other PTI officials’ involvement in a series of audio leaks.