A UK court decides to unfreeze the bank accounts of PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif and his son Suleiman Sharif. As per reports, UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) did not find any evidence regarding money laundering, fraud, and criminal conduct against the two.
According to media reports, Pakistan’s Asset Recovery Unit (ARU) shared evidence of fraud with NCA in December 2019. As a result, UK authorities froze Shahbaz Sharif and his son’s bank accounts.
However, after a 17-month probe, the NCA submitted an investigation report to the Westminister court stating that Shahbaz and his son did not launder money in Pakistan, Dubai, and the UK.
Hailing it a victory for PML-N, the party’s spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb also tweeted on Shahbaz Sharif’s acquittal. She called the charges “baseless allegations of corruption and money laundering by Imran Khan.”
Read more: Maryam Nawaz sidelined, Shehbaz Sharif leads PML-N for PDM rally?
Marriyum Aurangzeb further lambasted PM Khan. She called him “an unscrupulous ringmaster of a circuit built on incompetence, deceit and stained by the indignation of the innocent and the poor.”
Imran Khan exposed as a charlatan,willing to malign and character Assassination of honest public office holders. False corruption narrative exposed as nothing more than a smoke screen. #سرخرو_شہبازشریف
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) September 27, 2021
Moreover, many PML-N supporters took to Twitter to rejoice over the glad tidings of Shahbaz Sharif’s acquittal. They appreciated UK and demanded that PM Khan apologizes to the Sharif family for putting them through such public disgrace.
Shahbaz Sharif’s acquittal: Another false news?
Mirza Shahzad Akbar, adviser to the prime minister on accountability reacted heavily to the news. He claimed that Shahbaz Sharif had not been acquitted as was being told by the media.
In a series of tweets, he stated that the news about the alleged acquittal is incorrect and misreporting.
The media reports that ARU requested NCA to investigate Shahbaz Sharif. However, Shahzad Akbar denies such reports and maintains the investigation by the NCA against Suleman Shehbaz and some of his family members was not initiated at the request of Asset Recovery Unit (ARU) or National Accountability Bureau (NAB),”
The news about alleged ‘acquittal’ of Shabaz Sharif or his son Suleiman Shabaz run by one news channel is incorrect and misreporting.
The investigation by the NCA against Suleiman Shabaz and some of his family members was not initiated at the request of ARU or NAB.1/4— Mirza Shahzad Akbar (@ShazadAkbar) September 27, 2021
He then goes on to clarify that a release order (by court) is not an acknowledgment that funds are from a legitimate source.
“Suleman Shehbaz remains a fugitive in a money laundering case against him and his father before AC LHR,” he said in another tweet.
Read more: NAB investigates PML-N’s KPK President over corruption
Interestingly, Mirza Shahzad Akbar’s tirade against Shahbaz Sharif did not go well with Marriyum Aurangzeb. The party leader responded to his claims, labeling them as “lies.”
“Telling hundred more lies to cover up thousands already told,” Marriyum Aurangzeb tweeted.
She then reiterated that NCA did indeed launch an investigation at the request of NAB.
“On 10th Dec 2019, DG NAB Lahore met with the NCA officials in London, thereby an application was filed by Barrister Zia Naseem, an international legal expert from ARU PM office headed by Shahzad Akbar,” the PML-N leader hit back.
Telling hundred more lies to cover up thousands already told. On 10th Dec 2019 DG NAB lahore met with the NCA officials in London thereby an application was filed by Barrister Zia Naseem,Intl Legal Expert from Asset Recovery Unit PM office headed by Shahzad akbar on Dec11th 2019 https://t.co/l4nhSdZIHN
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) September 27, 2021