Suleman Shahbaz - son of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif - will return to Pakistan on December 11 (Sunday) via Saudi Airlines while Islamabad High Court has barred National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from taking Suleman into custody from the airport, 24NewsHD TV channel reported.

A two-judge IHC bench, headed by Chief Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, also ordered Suleman Shehbaz to surrender before the court by December 13 (Tuesday).

While hearing the plea for his protective bail on Thursday, IHC Chief Justice Amir Farooq said that it is compulsory for an accused to appear in person for getting protective bail. Upon which the lawyer said that Suleman will reach Islamabad on December 11.

After this the court granted protective bail to the son of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The court forbade Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from taking Suleman into custody from the airport.

The court also barred National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from arresting Suleman Shehbaz till December 13.

Suleman Shahbaz is wanted to NAB in assets beyond means case.

On Wednesday, Suleman Shehbad had filed filed an application in IHC seeking protective bail. 

Suleman Shehbaz, who was declared absconder in a money laundering case and was staying in London, contended before the IHC through his lawyer Amjad Parvez that he wanted to return home to face the cases against him, praying the court to grant him protective bail for two weeks.

A court had declared Suleman Shehbaz and Tahir Naqvi absconders in July this year in a money laundering case against them.

Pertinent to note that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had wrote a letter to the UK government to hand over Suleman, who was wanted by the accountability watchdog under money laundering charges and Telegraphic Transfer scandal. 

An accountability court in 2019 had also issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of Suleman in a money laundering case. He went abroad in 2018.

The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) banking crime circle had claimed to have unearthed billions of rupees stashed money in bank accounts of his employees.

 

Reporter: Ehtisham Kiyani

 

Details to follow…..