LAHORE – A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench Thursday extended interim bail of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz in Ramzan Sugar Mills, Saaf Pani and assets cases till May 8.
The bench, comprising Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan and Justice Mirza Viqas Rauf, heard the pre-arrest bail petitions, filed by the PML-N leader.
At the outset of the proceedings, Hamza Shehbaz, along with his lawyers – Azam Nazir Tarar, Salman Butt and Amjad Parvaiz – appeared before the bench, besides the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecution team.
Salman Butt Advocate submitted that many important documents had not been provided by the bureau in assets beyond means case against his client. He argued that the case could not have proceeded further if the said documents were not provided.
He submitted that grounds for the arrest had also not been provided in the case, besides documents regarding up-gradation of an inquiry into investigations. How the arrest could be challenged in the court if these documents are not provided, he questioned.
He contended that the bureau could not arrest his client on charges of money laundering. Any investigative agency could only hold investigations into the financial matters and if the case was referred to the investigative agency, then it would be heard by a sessions court, he added.
However, NAB Prosecutor Jahanzaib Bharwana submitted that Hamza Shehbaz was required for investigations about the money received from abroad and offshore companies. He submitted that the bureau initiated the inquiry against Hamza on a letter, written by the Financial Monitoring Unit about suspected transactions in 2008.
The bureau wanted to interrogate Hamza in that regard, but he was not cooperating. He argued that some documents were sensitive and it could not be provided. However, these documents could be presented as evidence, he submitted.
Subsequently, the bench adjourned the matter till May 8, besides extending the interim bail of Hamza Shehbaz. The bench directed the NAB prosecutor for seeking instructions from the authorities concerned about provision of the sensitive documents and apprise the bench on the next date of hearing.
Meanwhile, NAB Lahore director general has also filed a reply on a plea filed by Hamza Shehbaz against a raid on his residence.
