An accountability court on Monday put off the hearing of a money laundering case against PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and members of his family until January 6. Judge Jawadul Hassan adjourned the hearing due to the absence of Shehbaz’s lawyer Amjad Pervaiz, who was stated to have gone to the Supreme Court to pursue a case.
NAB court adjourns Shehbaz Sharif money laundering case hearing till Jan 6 https://t.co/Tz9FatSpcm pic.twitter.com/xJiPDHcoF8
— 24 News HD (@24NewsHD) January 4, 2021
Some sources claim that the ground is being set to grant bail to Shehbaz Sharif in the face of rising tension among various factions of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
Moreover, during the hearing, the PML-N president informed the court that his lawyer had gone to Islamabad where he fell sick. Stating that it is his legal right that his lawyer’s presence is ensured during the hearing, he requested the court to adjourn the case.
Shehbaz, who is also leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, complained to the judge that a medical board has not yet come. “I am in your custody. You are powerful so you can call the board,” he said, addressing the judge.
He once again requested the court to form a medical board to examine his health. At this, the judge told him to submit a written request, after which he will pass an order as per the law.
Read more: All cases against PML-N are false, if corruption is found I should be hanged: Shehbaz Sharif
Shehbaz asked the judge to use his powers, to which the latter remarked that the PML-N president was given a bulletproof vehicle for his transportation from jail to the court on his orders. “I will use power when the time to do so comes,” he said.
Shehbaz is Establishment’s man?
Shehbaz is known for his pro-establishment in his party. There have been some reports suggesting his differences with Nawaz and Maryam over the nature of the party’s relationship with the country’s powerful establishment. Maryam was leading a segment of the party with the slogan of ‘vote ko izat do.’ She slammed the establishment for political engineering and getting favorable verdicts from courts. However, later on, Shehbaz’s approach appeared to have prevailed as the party not only offered unconditional support to amend the law to give extension in service to the Army Chief but also Maryam went silent.
“Shehbaz Sharif is the establishment’s, next blue-eyed man. PM Imran is likely to remain in his seat but Shehbaz is certain to have an invisible role to reorganize his party to become a new force in Punjab,” a senior official who spoke on the condition of anonymity told GVS. Analysts in Islamabad are mulling over the question; is PM Imran and his government are aware of what is going on in national politics?
Notably, Arif Hameed Bhatti, a prominent journalist and political commentator, revealed in a talk-show, Breaking Point with Malick, that the establishment has “secretly conveyed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to resolve the ongoing political impasse in the country”.
Read more: Maryam Nawaz get hits by her own security guard outside IHC
Bhatti also revealed that Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) Secretary General Muhammad Ali Durrani called on PML-N President and National Assembly Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif in Kot Lakhpat jail after he was asked “by the establishment to go to jail”.
“During my meeting with Shehbaz, I conveyed an important message of the party chief Syed Sibghatullah Rashidi [Pir of Pagaro] to him. Mr Shehbaz is asked to play his role in stopping the opposition from resigning from the assemblies as the move could wrap up the democratic system. There is a need to initiate a grand dialogue among the national institutions and politicians, make the parliament functional and gather all Muslim Leagues under one platform,” Mr Durrani told media persons after the meeting.