Court acquits Sharifs in money laundering case

Published September 19, 2014
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (L) and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif (R). — File photo/AFP
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (L) and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif (R). — File photo/AFP

RAWALPINDI: An accountability court on Friday cleared Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif of all charges pertaining to a money laundering reference filed 14 years ago.

During a hearing presided by Justice Anwar Ahmed at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court, Sharif brothers, along with Kulsoom Nawaz, Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shahbaz, were acquitted from all corruption charges in relation to Raiwind palace, Hudaibya Paper Mills and possession of illegal assets.

Justice Ahmed said the cases had been pending for 14 years and not a single witness had appeared in court.

Terming the charges against the Sharif family as politically motivated, the court said these had no factual bases.

However, another reference accusing the Sharif family of defaulting over a bank loan in relation to Ittefaq Foundries is yet to proceed in the accountability court.

The hearing of the case was subsequently adjourned to October 2.

Also read: Sharifs in NAB list of ‘bank loan defaulters’

Earlier in 2000, the General (retd) Pervez Musharraf-led government had prepared a money laundering reference against Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif.

The reference had said that the Sharif brothers had used the Hudaibya Paper Mills as a cover for money laundering during the late 1990s.

The ruling comes at a favourable time when the embattled Nawaz Sharif is struggling to hold his own with the protesting Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) demanding for his resignation and calling his government the outcome of a rigged election.

More on this: Leaders’ wealth — Shahbaz richer than Nawaz

Opinion

Editorial

Court business
Updated 30 Oct, 2024

Court business

The unity and commonality of purpose on display in the full court meeting are what will help the SC endure.
UNRWA ban
30 Oct, 2024

UNRWA ban

NOT content with the war of extermination it is executing against the Palestinian people, Israel now wants to ensure...
Cricket changes
30 Oct, 2024

Cricket changes

WIN or lose, Pakistan cricket seems to be embroiled in a constant state of flux. Just when things seemed to be...
Regional trade
Updated 29 Oct, 2024

Regional trade

If done right, restored trade relations with India can also open the door to better bilateral ties.
Speaker’s remarks
29 Oct, 2024

Speaker’s remarks

THOUGH the ECP has been formally admonished not once but twice for its continuing failure to obey the Supreme...
On the edge
29 Oct, 2024

On the edge

PAKISTAN is on the verge of hitting 50 polio cases this year. A look at the trends leaves one bewildered. We were...