SULEMAN SHEHBAZ, THE SON OF PM, RECEIVES A 14-DAY PROTECTIVE BAIL FROM IHC.


Suleman Shehbaz, the son of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was granted protective bail by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday and ordered to appear before the appropriate trial court handling a money laundering case against him. After more than four years of self-exile in the United Kingdom, Suleman returned to Pakistan on Sunday as per the IHC's order to appear in court by December 13. The prime minister’s son had been denied protective bail by the court due to his absence, but the court had also prohibited the police from detaining him at the airport upon his arrival in Pakistan.

Suleman appears before IHC

During the initial hearing of his plea for protective bail, Suleman appeared before the IHC. During the hearing, Suleman's attorney was questioned about the court his client must appear in by IHC’s Chief Justice Aamer Farooq. Upon hearing this, Suleman's attorney, Amjad Pervez, informed the IHC Chief Justice that his client must appear before the central special judge in Lahore.

The PM's son was granted protective bail after Justice Farooq learned of this and ordered him to appear before the appropriate court within 14 days. Suleman claimed in his plea to the IHC that he left Pakistan in 2018 and that the case was first filed against him in 2020. He added that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had not sent him a call-up notice and that the court had proclaimed him a criminal without taking any further action.

Imran Khan’s time to be accountable here

Suleman criticized Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Chairman, Imran Khan. in a media interview outside IHC, saying that the time for his accountability has come. Suleman stated

"The day of reckoning has come, and we won't spare him. Now, we will not allow him any room, and he will suffer the consequences”.

Suleman also questioned why Farah Gogi, a friend of Imran Khan's wife, who is accused of selling the Toshakhana watches given to Khan, left Pakistan. He said:

“You are upset that Farah Gogi does not hold a public office, I didn't hold any public position either”

He continued by saying that the PTI chairman imprisoned women when in power without even giving them a second thought.

Suleman remarked,

"You had the authority; you could have established the facts."

Javed Iqbal, the previous head of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), was also criticized by the PM's son, who called him a "black stain" on the accountability framework.

Entire world saw Imran Khan's tamasha last month

Suleman claimed that everyone on earth witnessed PTI Chairman Khan's "tamasha" (show) last month. He claimed that under Khan's presidency, a case was filed in Britain at the request of the Pakistani government, and its trial went on for 18 months. The PTI leader was also questioned by the prime minister's son about the proceeds from the sale of the watches the Saudi crown prince had given him.

Suleman's exile

Suleman moved to London from Pakistan ahead of 2018 general elections. National Accountability Bureau (NAB) registered several cases against him. Suleman was given a clean chit after two years of investigation by UK anti-corruption sleuths. He claims he was forced to leave Pakistan for political reasons.