Court confirms NAB orders to freeze Shahbaz Sharif family assets

LAHORE: An accountability court on Wednesday confirmed the National Accountability Bureau Lahore’s orders to freeze the properties owned by PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, his sons Hamza Shahbaz and Salman Shahbaz and other family members in connection with an investigation involving income beyond means and money laundering.

The court in its orders observed that the proportion of “the Shahbaz family wealth from 2003 to 2018 prima facie is not proportionate to the known sources of the accused, which has not been explained by the accused.” The judgment further stated that “At this stage, even the provisions of the protection of Economic Reforms Act, 1992, would not be helpful to the accused party unless the sources of the said payments [are] disclosed by them.”

The orders also stated that NAB orders against the Shahbaz family are also supported by the statements given by approvers --- Muhammad Mushtaq, alias Cheeni, Yasir Mushtaq, Shahid Rafique and Aftab Mehmood. Shahbaz family can file objection to the said court orders within 14 days.

Earlier, on Dec 3, The National Accountability Bureau had issued orders to freeze 23 properties owned by Shahbaz Sharif, his sons Hamza, Suleman and other family members, all accused of amassing assets beyond means.