NAB arrests Shehbaz Sharif after LHC rejects bail plea

The National Accountability Burea (NAB) arrested Shehabz Sharif on Monday after the Lahore High Court rejected his bail petition in the money laundering case.

On September 23, his bail was extended by the high court till September 28 (today). The bureau arrested the leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly after a two-member bench of the LHC dismissed his bail plea in the case.

NAB has taken Sharif to its headquarters. The bureau will present the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) president before an accountability court tomorrow.

A large number of PML-N followers and supporters were present outside the court and chanted slogans against the government. Following his arrest, PML-N information secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb said the entire nation has been handcuffed through Sharif's arrest.

PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz also took to Twitter and said the leader has been arrested 'only because he refused to play in the hands of those who wanted to use him against his brother'.

NAB has filed a Rs8 billion reference of money laundering against Sharif, his two sons and other family members. The main suspects are Sharif's wife Nusrat Shehbaz, his sons Hamza Shehbaz and Suleman Shehbaz, daughters Rabia Imran and Javeria Ali.

LHC bars NAB from arresting Shehbaz Sharif till June 17

The accountability watchdog said that Shehbaz's family received fake foreign remittances of billions in their personal bank accounts. It added that the family has failed to justify the sources of funds used for the acquisition of assets.