Court reserves judgment on Nusrat Shehbaz exemption plea

Defers indictment in money laundering reference: Extends judicial remand of PML-N president, son: Shehbaz says Orange Line project delayed by four years due to PTI

By: News Desk
Published: 02:25 PM, 27 Oct, 2020
Court reserves judgment on Nusrat Shehbaz exemption plea
Caption: TV grab shows policemen beating supporters of Hamza Shehbaz outside the accountability court on Tuesday.
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An accountability court in Lahore on Tuesday extended the judicial remand of PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz in the money laundering reference, as the jail authorities were ordered to provide bed to the leader of opposition, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

On the other hand, the court postponed the indictment process as the copies of the four approvers’ statements were not provided to the defence counsel.

Before adjourning the proceedings till November 2, the accountability court judge, Jawad-ul-Hassan, directed the prosecution to ensure that the defence had the statement’s copies before the next hearing date.

However, the decision on exempting Nusrat Shehbaz – the wife of PML-N president – from hearing on medical grounds was reserved after the two sides presented their arguments on the matter.

Nusrat is currently in London as the defence counsel said her medical reports were attested by an attaché at the Pakistan High Commission in London.  

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The defence lawyer, Amjad Pervaiz, argued that she left for London January 2019 when neither the reference was filed nor any progress had been made in inquiry.

She has requested in her plea to appoint Muhammad Nawaz Chaudhry Advocate as pleader in the case. 

Amjad informed the court that Nusrat, 66, couldn’t even walk without help and was suffering from different psychological and physical ailments.

The NAB prosecutor, however, opposed by the plea and argued that the move was a result of the non-bailable arrest warrants.  

During the hearing, the Kot Lakhpat jail superintendent informed the court that all the medical facilities were being provided to the imprisoned PML-N president and he would shifted to hospital for MRI in the one or two days.

On the other hand, Shehbaz told reporters during a brief chat that the incumbent government would be swept away by the people. He also condemned the latest terror attack in Peshawar and offered condolence to the bereaved families. 

He congratulated the nation for the launching of Orange Line in Lahore and said the project was delayed by four years due to the PTI.

Separately, Hamza, when asked about the launch of Orange Line, chanted Long Live Shehbaz Sharif.

Meanwhile, the charged PML-N workers and police had a brawl outside the court when Hamza was being shifted to prison after the hearing. The policemen reportedly slapped the party workers in the incident.