– Yasir records statement in money laundering case
From Abid Usman
LAHORE: Approver Yasir Mushtaq on Friday recorded his statement in connection with money laundering case against the family of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Opposition Leader in National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif.
According to details, the approver told that he was directed by Sharif family’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to turn the black money worth Rs 60 crore into white. Chief financial officer (CFO) had told to use bank account of Mushtaq and Company for telegraphic transfer (TT), he added.
Earlier, accountability court had rejected the plea of Nusrat Shahbaz seeking exemption from the hearings in money laundering case.
While announcing the reserved verdict, accountability judge Jawad-ul-Hassan had directed to launch proceedings to declare Nusrat Shahbaz as proclaimed offender. On September 28, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team had arrested Shehbaz Sharif in money laundering case after Lahore High Court (LHC) rejected his bail plea.
A two-member bench of the Lahore High Court comprising Justice Sardar Ahmed Naeem and Justice Farooq Haider heard the plea, during which Shehbaz Sharif’s lawyer presented his arguments.
Counsel of PML-N President argued that Shehbaz Sharif saved over Rs1,000 billion of national exchequer and never received his pay as a member of National Assembly. No evidence was available against Shehbaz Sharif in money laundering case and none of the witnesses accused PML-N leader of the ill practice, he added.
Accountability court had issued bailable arrest warrants for Shehbaz Sharif’s wife Nusrat Shahbaz and his daughter Rabia Imran over continuous absence in money laundering case.
The accountability judge has directed Nusrat Shahbaz and Rabia Imran to attend next hearing on September 29 at any cost. While talking to media outside the court, Shehbaz Sharif said that the incumbent government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was taking political revenge from PML-N leaders. I have always served the people of Punjab with sincerity, he added.
According to the NAB investigation report, Chief Financial Officer of Sharif family Muhammad Usman laundered money for the Shehbaz family.
Muhammad Usman started working for the Sharif family in 2005 at Ramzan Sugar Mills for Rs 90,000 per month. In 2006, the Nawaz family acquired Hudaibiya Engineering from the Shehbaz family and in 2007, the Shehbaz family made more companies, including the Sharif Feed Mill, to expand their business.
The bank accounts of Shehbaz Sharif’s wife Nusrat Shehbaz and his sons were used for foreign remittances and loans. On the direction of Salman, Waqar Trading Company made fake foreign remittances of Rs 600 million.
