LAHORE: A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench on Thursday granted bail to Muhammad Mushtaq alias Chene involved in the Suleman Shehbaz money-laundering case.
The court directed Mushtaq Chene to submit two surety bonds of Rs500, 000 for availing the bail. The bench comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem heard the post-arrest bail petition.
Advocate Asad Manzoor Butt, on behalf of Mushtaq Chene, argued that his client was arrested by the bureau in connection with the Salman Shehbaz money-laundering case.
However, he said that his client had become an approver in the case and got his confessional statement recorded under Section 26 of the National Accountability Ordinance before a judicial magistrate on June 17, 2019.
He further submitted that his client extended complete cooperation with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) authorities during the investigation but was sent to jail on judicial remand.
The counsel contended that his client was not required by the bureau for investigation any longer; therefore, he could be released from jail. He pleaded with the court to grant bail to his client whereas he was ready to furnish any sort of surety for the purpose.
Besides submitting a reply, the NAB prosecutor stated that the accused disclosed true facts during the investigation and admitted that he facilitated money laundering worth Rs603 million for Salman Shehbaz due to business fraternity terms and political stature of the Sharif family.
The prosecutor emphasised that the NAB chairman had accepted his application for pardon while submitting that if the bureau did not have any objection, the accused be released on bail in accordance with the law.
The bench, after hearing arguments of the parties, granted bail to Mushtaq Chene and directed for the submission of surety bonds.
