ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday cleared Suleman Shehbaz, son of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a Rs16 billion ($69.61 million) money laundering case over a lack of evidence against him, local media reported.
Shehbaz, along with PM Sharif and his brother Hamza Shehbaz, was booked by the FIA in November 2020 for laundering Rs16 billion. He had attended a few hearings before leaving Pakistan for England in 2018 after multiple corruption cases were registered against him.
In July this year, a trial court had declared Shehbaz a proclaimed offender, along with another accused, in the money laundering case. However, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had restrained authorities from arresting Shehbaz prior to his return to Pakistan on Dec 11.
On Saturday, Shehbaz appeared before a Lahore court for the hearing of his pre-arrest bail plea in the money laundering case.
“As the proceedings commenced, the FIA submitted a challan before the court, stating the agency could not find any evidence against Suleman in the case that it had been investigating for months,” Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported.
A couple of months ago, a special court in Lahore had acquitted PM Sharif and his elder son, Hamza Shehbaz, in this case.
The FIA had accused the Sharif family of laundering Rs16.3 billion via more than two dozen fictitious accounts between 2008 and 2018.
Following Saturday’s submission by the FIA, Shehbaz and the other co-accused, Tahir Naqvi, withdrew their bail applications, according to the Dawn report.
The court then adjourned hearing of the case until February 4.
Pakistani agency clears PM Sharif’s son in $69 million money laundering case
https://arab.news/vqtjn
Pakistani agency clears PM Sharif’s son in $69 million money laundering case
- Suleman Shehbaz, along with PM Sharif and his brother Hamza Shehbaz, was booked in the case in Nov 2020
- A Lahore court acquitted PM Sharif and his elder son, Hamza Shehbaz, in the case a couple of months ago
Putin calls Russia’s ties with Pakistan ‘mutually beneficial’
- The Russian President mentions the ties as Pakistan’s new envoy presents his credentials in Moscow
- Pakistan and Russia have strengthened relations in recent years, expanding cooperation in key sectors
ISLAMABAD: Russian President Vladimir Putin has described relations with Pakistan as “mutually beneficial,” according to a social media post by his country’s embassy in Pakistan on Friday, as he met newly appointed Pakistani ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi during a credentials ceremony in Moscow.
Pakistan and Russia have steadily strengthened bilateral ties in recent years while working to further expand cooperation in trade, investment, energy and connectivity.
“We maintain close cooperation with Pakistan, a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the largest regional organization in terms of economic, technological, and human potential,” Putin was quoted as saying in a post on X. “Russia
Pakistan relations are genuinely mutually beneficial.”
In recent years, Pakistan and Russia have pledged to deepen economic ties, explore barter trade and energy deals, and boost people-to-people contacts. High-level visits have also taken place between officials of both countries, highlighting interest in expanding cooperation in technology, agriculture and transport.
Last December, Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Russia and Pakistan were in talks on a potential oil-sector agreement.
Earlier, in May, Pakistan and Russia agreed to establish a steel mill in Karachi, aiming to boost bilateral ties and expand industrial collaboration.
The two countries are also working on the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline, a major infrastructure project aimed at transporting imported gas from Karachi to Punjab to help meet Pakistan’s energy needs.
In 2023, Pakistan and Russia also discussed a deal for the delivery of Russian crude to Pakistan, and talks have continued on broader energy partnerships.
