Shahbaz Sharif’s son-in-law declared absconder

LAHORE: An accountability court on Tuesday declared Imran Ali Yousaf, son-in-law of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shahbaz Sharif, an absconder in corruption case.

Accountability judge Najamul Hassan gave the decision on the request of NAB-Lahore, which states that Ali has fled abroad while escaping the investigation into Punjab Power Development Company scandal. The court declared him absconder after he failed to appear in the hearing despite summons.

In May this year, the NAB had summoned Mr Yousaf as he was asked to bring details of a transaction of Rs 120 million deposited to his bank account from the account of the PPDC, but he did not appear.

The Anti-Corruption Establishment had already conducted a probe into the matter involving Mr Naveed and Mr Yousaf in 2016. It had declared Mr Naveed guilty of embezzling Rs 450 m but gave a ‘clean chit’ to Mr Yousaf.

The ACE had found that Mr Naveed had purchased 19 properties in his and his family members’ names. It had also unearthed properties worth Rs 1bn allegedly belonging to Mr Naveed and his family. The property has been attached and suspects’ bank accounts frozen.