Money laundering: PML-N's secret bank accounts worth Rs9.5 billion traced, says Akbar

(Karachi) Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar has said that secret bank accounts of the employees of Suleman Shehbaz, son of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif, with Rs9.5 billion deposits have been traced.

Addressing a press briefing on PML-N's money laundering scam on Wednesday, he said that the employees worked in the Ramzan Sugar Mills and Al-Arabiya Sugar Mills and had provided details of the said accounts to investigation team.

He maintained that a hefty amount of Rs2.3 billion has been traced in the bank account of Maqsood, a peon in one of the companies of Shahbaz Sharif that was established for money laundering. The special assistant said it is surprising how a peon bought a Mercedes worth Rs15 million from that money.

He pointed out 16 employees are involved in the money laundering scandal that included Shabbir Qureshi, a clerk, who had Rs1 billion in his account; Rs520 million in clerk Tanveerul Haq’s account, Rs240 million was found in Rana Wasim’s account and Rs640 million in Iqrar’s account.

Akbar revealed that Rs1.2 billion was deposited in the account of Accounts Clerk Khizar Hayat, Rs450 million was deposited in the account of Tauqeeruddin.

He said that the Sharif family committed the crime in an organized manner through their employees. He stated that money laundering scam against PML-N is one of country's most solid case with proofs and evidences.

Shahzad said accounts of 11 employees were used to carry out the transactions. "One of the company's employees paid Rs10 million to Hamza Shahbaz against his appointment as head of baitul Maal."