The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz Sharif has expressed complete unawareness about the depositors of his personal bank accounts while being quizzed by the investigators of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Rs25 billion money laundering case.
I wish I had Hamza Shahbaz's friends so that they could also fill my accounts with money. pic.twitter.com/DNy3LiITp5
— ST (@shobz) June 24, 2021
Hamza Shehbaz, the Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, appeared before the FIA investigators yesterday in connection with the ongoing probe into the Rs25 billion money laundering case.
It was learnt that Hamza Shehbaz told FIA investigators that he was completely unaware of those who deposited funds worth billions in his personal bank accounts.
The PML-N leader said he remained a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) from 2008 to 2018. He also expressed a lack of awareness about anti-money laundering law 2010 and anti-corruption act 1947 when he was questioned by FIA.
The PML-N leader gave a reason that he was unaware of the funds being deposited in his bank accounts as he was busy doing politics. He also rejected to meet concerned staff including engineers, consultants and contractors of public projects.
Hamza Shehbaz claimed that he was also unaware of the reasons which led Salman Shehbaz and Ramzan Sugar Mills employees to leave the country.
Read More: Inside story: ‘Shehbaz Sharif is establishment’s next blue-eyed man’
He added that he was chief executive of Ramzan Sugar Mills, however, it was not his responsibility to find out the clerks and peons who deposited funds worth Rs25 billion to his bank accounts. Hamza also rejected that the sugar mills’ director and his family were not possessing any secret assets abroad, whereas, his legal team will respond to the allegations in court.
It is pertinent to mention here that FIA had summoned Hamza Shehbaz to probe into Ramzan Sugar Mills and Al-Arabia Sugar Mills cases.
Shehbaz Sharif’s family wealth increase: from 1998 to 2018
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has said that between 1998 to 2018, Shehbaz’s family assets grew from Rs.23 million to Rs.549 billion. “As a public office holder Shehbaz needs to explain the increase in his assets,” NAB said.
The accountability watchdog has also asked Shehbaz to submit bank details along with the loan taken from Barclays between 2005 to 2007.
Furthermore, NAB has also sought details of all the gifts received and given by the family, details of agriculture income from 2008 to 2019 and details about the utilization of Shehbaz’s Model Town residence as chief minister’s camp house.
Last year in December, NAB had issued orders to freeze 23 pieces of property belonging to the former Punjab chief minister and his sons Hamza and Suleman Shehbaz over the allegation that they acquired assets beyond their means and committed money laundering.
Read More: NAB summons Shehbaz Sharif in money laundering case
According to the accountability bureau, an investigation against Shehbaz, Hamza, Suleman and others for the offense of “corruption and corrupt practices” had revealed that Shehbaz had acquired properties in the name of his wives Nusrat Shahbaz Sharif and Tehmina Durrani.