Hamza Shahbaz

In a money-laundering probe that includes a sugar mill owned by the Sharif family, PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday appeared before the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to face an investigation.

The notice was sent to Shahbaz in the National Assembly that asked for a response to Rs25 billion allegedly having been sent to accounts of low-grade employees of the Ramzan Sugar Mill. A questionnaire of twenty items was sent via his advisor and he was asked to send responses along with his signature.

In another inquiry, the FIA has called Hamza Shahbaz on June 24.

The FIA called Shahbaz at 11 am, but, he arrived for the inquiry at 11:47 am.

Shahbaz and Hamza previously obtained pre-arrest bail till 10th July from a banking court that in its written verdict, directed both to submit bail bonds of Rs1 million each.

In the event the amount is not submitted, FIA reserves the right to arrest Shahbaz and Hamza. It is also mandatory for both to appear before the FIA whenever they are called.

A five-member FIA team interrogated him for half an hour, where Director FIA Punjab Zone-1 Dr. Rizwan leading the interrogation.

 

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Security was beefed up outside the FIA offices before Shahbaz’s arrival. A large crowd of PML-N supporters gathered outside the building.

When Shahbaz was leaving, officials called him again, sources said, adding that it was not clear on whose instructions and why he was called again. He was questioned for half an hour more.

FIA officials refrained from commenting on the matter.

Marriyum Aurangzeb, a PML-N spokesperson, speaking to media on the occasion, said that Shahbaz had been called due to the “FIA-Niazi nexus”.

She added, “FIA’s office is Imran Khan’s office now, just like NAB’s office was established at Prime Minister House. But now, after the fall of the NAB-Niazi nexus, the FIA-Niazi nexus has come into play,”

 

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