RECORDeR REPORT

LAHORE: An Accountabi-lity Court on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrants of Suleman Shahbaz, son of Shahbaz Sharif, in illegal assets and money laundering case for August 10.

The investigating officer submitted an application to the court for the issuance of arrest warrants of Suleman and confiscation of his alleged illegal assets.

The special prosecutor also stated that Suleman had been nominated as accused for keeping assets beyond means and committing money laundering.

He presented documentary evidence including bank records, statements of approvers and record of Telegraph Transfer (TT) of money against the accused.

He stated that the chairman of the NAB had already issued direction for the arrest of the accused as he had not joined investigation despite six call-up notices. He asked the court to issued arrest warrants of the accused so that further proceedings could be initiated against him.

The court allowed the application and issued non-bailable arrest warrants of Suleman Shahbaz. Suleman left the country for London several months ago.

Suleman’s elder brother Hamza Shahbaz, at present leader of opposition in Punjab Assembly, is already on physical remand with the NAB in illegal assets and money laundering case.

The NAB alleged that assets worth Rs 3.3 billion had been identified so far as illegally accumulated by Hamza, Suleman and their father Shahbaz Sharif.

It said the whole family committed massive money laundering in the name of foreign remittances and loans. It said Hamza received benefits from different family members, including brother Salman and sister Rabia Ali under the garb of gifts.