No proof that PM Shehbaz, Hamza opened benami accounts, FIA tells court

The Special Central Court in Lahore on Tuesday heard the acquittal petitions filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz in the money laundering case registered against them, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

During the hearing of petitions, the court asked the FIA’s prosecutor whether any evidence was found that PM Shehbaz and Hamza had opened Benami bank accounts. 

The prosecutor replied in negative, and said that no such evidence had been found. “All proofs which the prosecution could gather are now part of the record; there is nothing left now,” he told the court.  

Speaking on the occasion, Amjad Pervaiz Advocate, representing PM Shehbaz and Hamza in the case, said he was all praise for the prosecutor who had argued the case well. “The truth is that not a single witness, in his statement, has said that either the prime minister or his son is related to these accounts,” he said, and added, “They all have said they are completely in dark as to who had deposited amounts in these accounts.”  

He further said that there could be no indictment in the case since there was no proof of wrongdoing on the part of his clients.

Judge Ijaz Hassan Awan asked the prosecutor as to how many bank accounts Malik Maqsood had. “He has eight sir,” the prosecutor replied. 

He also told the court that neither any amount was deposited in the accounts of PM Shehbaz or Hamza nor was drawn. 

Later, the court adjourned hearing of the case until tomorrow.   

Reporter: Jamaluddin Jamali