The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday cleared Suleman Shehbaz — son of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif — in the Rs16 billion sugar scam case, citing a “lack of evidence”.
The FIA granted absolution to the prime minister’s son in a challan submitted in Lahore’s special court, which took up a plea filed by Suleman seeking bail in the case.
Suleman, who returned to Pakistan on Dec 11 after four years of self-exile in London, was accused in Rs16bn money laundering case registered with the FIA while the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had nominated him in an assets-beyond-means reference.
He was declared a proclaimed offender in both cases.
Prior to his return, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had restrained the NAB and FIA from arresting him.
Today, Suleman was accompanied by his counsel Amjad Parvez in the hearing.
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.
Following the FIA submission, Suleman and another co-accused Tahir Naqvi withdrew their bail applications.
The hearing was adjourned till Feb 4.
A couple of months ago, a special court of Lahore had acquitted PM Shehbaz and his elder son, Hamza Shehbaz, in this case. The FIA had booked Shehbaz and his two sons — Hamza and Suleman — in November 2020 under sections 419, 420, 468, 471, 34 and 109 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, read with section 3/4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Suleman and another co-suspect had been declared proclaimed offenders by the court for their constant absence from proceedings.
