"I only look after political matters", Hamza Shehbaz tells NAB

LAHORE: Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly and PML-N leader, Hamza Shehbaz, appeared before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday, ARY News reported.

Hamza Shehbaz was summoned by the anti-corruption watchdog to question charges of alleged money laundering and assets beyond known sources. He had been asked to present before the investigators along with the complete record.

The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader faced inquiry by a three-member investigation team which continued for two hours and 45 minutes, sources said.

During the inquiry, the politician told NAB investigators that he only looks after political matters while Salman Shehbaz handles financial things.

Sources revealed that the anti-graft watchdog has grabbed important records from Financial Management Unit which exposed 23 suspicious transactions made allegedly by 18 frontmen and closer aides. Moreover, NAB has also acquired details of Salman Shehbaz’s bank accounts.

It is pertinent to mention here that Hamza Shehbaz had been summoned by NAB on April 10 but he skipped appearance, whereas, he was called again on April 12 (today).

Earlier on April 11, Arshad Sharif’s ‘Power Play’ programme aired on ARY News revealed that the NAB had traced incontestable evidence against Hamza Shehbaz and his brother Salman Shehbaz, sons of former chief minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif, in money laundering and accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income.

The investigators obtained ample evidence during probe, showing huge transfer of money through telegraphic transfer (TT), or telex transfer that is used to refer to an electronic means of transferring money. The NAB sources said telegraphic transfers ceased to take place in the Hamza’s account after he became the member of the Lower House of the Parliament.