PM Shehbaz’s plea is dismissed by the LHC, and Hamza is acquitted in the money laundering case.

The Lahore High Court upheld the registrar office’s objection and ruled that the plea was inadmissible, dismissing a petition against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz’s acquittal in a money laundering case.

Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz were accused of money laundering Rs. 16 billion, and Chief Justice Aalia Neelum heard the case.

Advocate Vishal Ahmed Shakir filed the petition via senior attorney Aamir Saeed Raan.

The petitioner’s attorney contended during the hearing that Shehbaz Sharif obtained a favorable ruling within 15 days of taking office as prime minister.

He claimed that Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz had both entered acquittal pleas prior to indictment, which the Special Central Court judge had accepted, resulting in their acquittal.

The attorney argued that the ruling was illegal, claiming that the accused was given relief without following the correct procedures.

In a severe case involving billions of rupees, he argued that the court rendered its decision without allowing the prosecution to submit evidence despite the presence of about 100 prosecution witnesses. He asked the court to declare the trial court’s ruling void.

Chief Justice Aalia Neelum questioned the petitioner’s legal status and how he was impacted by the case during the hearings.

She noted that the issue did not come under public interest litigation and said that people cannot contest court rulings after a number of years without being directly wronged.