PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz has said that the Federal Investigation Agency has become a dubious institution that makes fake and phony cases at the behest of the government, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Hamza Shehbaz appeared before the FIA team in Lahore on Wednesday and submitted a written statement.

In his response, Shehbaz said he had spent 22 months in prison in a NAB case but corruption of not a single penny or money laundering could be proved against him.

He further revealed that the FIA team had quizzed him in Kot Lakhpat Jail on December 17, 2020, and they got detailed answers from him of their questions.

He asked why the FIA team thought of another round of questioning after six months. “Why the FIA team started probing the allegations levelled in a NAB reference only after I got bail,” he added.

Hamza said the NAB had thoroughly investigated his assets but could not found any irregularity. “I have declared all my assets before the FBR and the Elections Commission of Pakistan,” he said.

He said the NAB had also failed to establish in court any misuse of authority on his part. “The government is facing embarrassment over the case framed by the FIA and the concerned minister had uttered several statements in this regard.”

Hamza dubbed the FIA probe a political investigation.

He said the FIA had become controversial after levelling false allegations on the behest of the government against him. “After giving answers of all the questions, there is no room for further investigation,” he added.

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif’s son Hamza Sharif appeared before the FIA, Lahore on Wednesday for investigation into the money laundering and sugar mills scandal. He submitted written answers to the investigation agency

A large number of PML-N workers and supporters were gathered outside the FIA building to express solidarity with their leader. The administration put up barriers to keep the PML-N supporters away from the FIA building but they tried to cross over the barriers during Hamza’s quizzing by the FIA sleuths but the police did not let them in. 

Hamza had also appeared before the FIA on June 24 and expressed his ignorance regarding the transaction of money in his personal and in his sugar mills’ accounts. 

The investigation agency interrogating him in the sugar mills scandal involving money laundering amounting to Rs25 billion.

During the FIA grilling about the transaction of Rs25 billion, Hamza expressed his ignorance saying he did not know who deposited billions of rupees in sugar mills accounts. He said he remained member of National Assembly from 2008 till 2018. “I was extremely busy in politics, I do not know who kept transferring money in my personal account,” he added.

Hamza denied holding any meetings with engineers, consultants or contractors of public projects in Lahore. 

He told the FIA that he had no idea why did the Salman Shehbaz and Ramzan Sugar Mills employees leave the country. He said that he remained chief executive officer (CEO) of Ramzan Sugar Mills but it was not his responsibility to check who deposited Rs25 billion in the accounts of clerks and peons. 

Hamza declared that directors of Ramzan Sugar Mills (Salman and Hamza Shehbaz) and his family members did not have any secret assets abroad. He said his legal team would answer the allegations of the FIA team. 

On June 22, Shehbaz Sharif appeared before an FIA team and answered their queries regarding money-laundering and the sugar scandal. According to sources in the FIA, Shehbaz had failed to satisfy the FIA team who asked him questions regarding money laundering and sugar scandal.

 

Reporters Fasih Ullah and Irfan Malik