The Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N), denying rumours of Salman Shehbaz not returning to Pakistan similar to his cousins Hassan, Hussain Nawaz and brother-in-law Ali Imran Yousaf, who have already been declared proclaimed offenders in different cases, has claimed Salman would return to Pakistan soon.
According to a report in the local media, the party clarified that Salman is visiting London for private reasons and will return to Pakistan soon. They asserted that Salman has never held any public office and not been a Member of Parliament.
However, they didn’t specify the date on which Salman would return. The party pointed out that Salman’s father Shehbaz Sharif has been in the NAB prison for the past 40 days and his brother Hamza is also cooperating with the anti-corruption watchdog.
Rumours of Salman not returning to Pakistan gained traction after a letter written by NAB to the Interior Ministry on November 16, requested for Salman and Hamza’s names to be placed on the Exit Control List. Salman left for London on October 27, just three days before a scheduled NAB hearing and was later supposed to return to Pakistan in the first week of November. However, he has now reportedly delayed his trip while his brother has also secured an interim bail till November 20, fearing arrest.
Both sons of the former Punjab CM are being investigated by the National Accountability Bureau over the construction of a bridge which allegedly facilitates Ramzan Sugar Mills owned by the Sharif family. The accountability bureau has alleged Rs200 million was paid from the national exchequer the bridge’s construction.
It is pertinent to mention that during a NAB interrogation, Shehbaz said that his son Salman manages the business affairs of his family making him the missing piece in the case.