A special court in Lahore on Wednesday acquitted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former Punjab chief minister Hamza Shahbaz in a money laundering case.
The verdict pronounced on Wednesday evening, hours after the court had reserved the verdict.
Special Court Central Judge Aijaz Awan on Wednesday heard arguments from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in a case where Shehbaz and Hamza had filed an
application to acquit them in the case.
During the hearing, the court asked the FIA to present evidence to substantiate their claims.
However, the FIA could not satisfy the court on the evidence it presented.
After all sides completed their arguments in the case on Wednesday afternoon, the court had reserved its verdict in the case.
Later, it read out the verdict, accepting the applications and acquitting Shehbaz and Hamza, citing a lack of conclusive evidence that proves without a doubt the
suspects committed the crime they were accused of.
On the other 14 suspects implicated, the court adjourned hearings until the end of October.
The FIA had filed a charge sheet in the case in March this year and had accused the father-son duo among over a dozen others of money laundering.
As news of the verdict spread, gathered PML-N supporters started to celebrate, distributing sweet meats amongst them.
Earlier, Shehbaz and Hamza had been exempted from appearing in person before the court for Wednesday’s hearing.
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