Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry thinks Shehbaz Sharif’s indictment set for 18th February should have live media coverage. He also congratulated Pakistan on the beginning of Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza’s trial after a long investigation.
To clarify, earlier, a special court announced that it will frame charges against PMLN President Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz on February 18 in Rs16bn alleged money-laundering case against them.
Reacting to the news, Fawad Chaudhry wants live coverage of the trial in order to acquaint the public with the details of the case. Important to note, this is not the first time the minister made the unusual request. Last month, he urged the chief justices of the country to install cameras in the courtrooms. This time too, the federal minister is making the same request.
Read more: Supreme Court questions the role of media and intelligence agencies in Faizabad Sit-in
“Congratulations to the nation. After a long investigation, finally, on February 18, Shahbaz Sharif, Hamza Shahbaz and other accused in the money laundering case will be indicted and regular trial will begin. Exciting details emerge,” the Minister tweeted.
The minister referred to the fact that Shehbaz Sharif used his employees to open multiple bank accounts in order to launder money.
“Allow the case to be shown live,” Fawad Chaudhry further tweeted.
مقصودشہباز شریف کی مل میں چپراسی تھا اس کی تنخواہ 25 ہزار روپےتھی اس کے نام پر اکاؤنٹ کھلااور چارارب روپیہ اس کے اکاؤنٹ سے ہوتا ہوا شریف فیملی کے اکاؤنٹس میں پہنچ گیا، اس طرح کے اور درجنوں دلچسپ وعجیب فراڈ شہباز شریف کے اس مقدمے کا حصہ ہیں مقدمہ براہ راست دکھانے کی اجازت دی جائے
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) February 11, 2022
Ever since news broke of the PML-N leader’s indictment, the PTI camp is taking digs at Shehbaz Sharif.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said Shehbaz Sharif used to say that even if the authorities proved a penny of corruption against him, he will quit politics.
“Now that Rs4 billion came out of the bank account of his peon Maqsood whose salary was Rs25,000, what is his intention now?” he asked.
خادم اعلیٰ کہتے تھے اگر ایک دھیلے کی کرپشن ثابت ہو جائے تو سیاست چھوڑ دیں گے. اب ان کے پچیس ہزار تنخواہ کے چپڑاسی مقصود کے اکاؤنٹ سے چار ارب روپے نکل آئے. اب کیا ارادہ ہے موصوف کا؟ ویسے پوچھنا ہے یہ چار ارب میں کتنے دھیلے ہوتے ہیں؟ معصومانہ سوال
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) February 11, 2022
Charges against Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza
The FIA submitted a challan against PML-N president Shehbaz and Hamza to a special court for their alleged involvement in laundering an amount of Rs16 billion in the sugar scam case.
FIA’s investigation team detected 28 unnamed accounts of the Shehbaz family. Through the accounts, the family allegedly committed money laundering of Rs16.3bn during 2008-18. Furthermore, according to the FIA report, the FIA examined the money trail of 17,000 credit transactions. Furthermore, the FIA declared Suleman Shehbaz as proclaimed offender in this case. It also accused Malik Maqsood Ahmad and Sayed Tahir Naqvi of involvement in the money laundering case.
Read more: Court to charge Shehbaz Sharif & Hamza on Feb 18 in money laundering case
The FIA also claimed that Shehbaz Sharif did not use the money for the sugar business. Family members used the money for their personal benefit.