LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) special court Wednesday issued an order that it will indict Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister-elect Hamza Shahbaz in a money laundering case.
The special court had to indict the father-son duo and others allegedly involved in the case earlier this month, but due to the absence of PM Shehbaz, the process was delayed till April 27 (today).
But even today, the prime minister did not appear before the court and, as a result, in its written order, the special court summoned him, Hamza, and all the other suspects on May 14.
“It is being made clear to all the parties that on the next hearing, we will indict them […] all the suspects should ensure their attendance,” the special court’s order said.
The court noted that it could not indict the suspects today due to the absence of the prime minister.
Earlier, the Lahore High Court has issued a brief verdict in the swearing in case of newly elected Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz.
Chief Justice Lahore High Court Justice Amir Bhatti had earlier reserved the verdict yesterday.
Justice Amir Bhatti in a brief judgment said that there is no government in the province for 25 days, delay in taking oath is unconstitutional. Till tomorrow, the governor of Punjab should take oath from the Chief Minister of Punjab himself or through a representative.
Earlier, PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz had elected as the new Chief Minister of Punjab.
After the boycott of PTI and PML-Q, the voting process started in the House. Hamza Shehbaz got 197 votes while Pervaiz Elahi got one vote which was cast by PTI member Fayyaz Al Hassan Chauhan.
The meeting of the Punjab Assembly was scheduled to begin at 11:30 am today under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari.
