LHC dismisses plea challenging Shehbaz Sharif acquittal

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has dismissed a petition filed against the acquittal of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and others in the Federal Investigation Agency’s money laundering case, according to a detailed written verdict issued by the court.

The written order was issued by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum on a petition moved by Vishal Shakir, who had challenged the acquittal granted to Shehbaz Sharif in the FIA money laundering case.

In its detailed verdict, the court said it had upheld the objection raised by the Registrar Office regarding the maintainability of the petition and had ordered that the matter be dismissed.

The verdict stated that the petitioner was a private individual and was not a party to the original case. The court said that under the law, the authority to challenge an acquittal rests with the federal government or the public prosecutor.

Registrar Office objection upheld

According to the written verdict, the court maintained the Registrar Office’s objection to the petition. On that basis, it ordered the plea to be dismissed.

The case before the high court concerned a challenge to the acquittal of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and others in the FIA money laundering case. However, the court held that the petitioner did not have the legal standing required to pursue such a challenge because he was not directly connected to the proceedings as a party.

The verdict further made clear that the legal route for contesting an acquittal is available to the federal government or the public prosecutor, as provided under the relevant law. The court therefore did not accept the petition filed by the private individual.

Petition filed by private individual

Vishal Shakir had approached the Lahore High Court seeking to challenge the acquittal in the money laundering case. The court, however, ruled that such a petition could not proceed at the instance of a private person who was not part of the original proceedings.

The detailed verdict sets out the court’s reasoning for rejecting the plea and reiterates that the right to file an appeal or challenge against an acquittal in such a matter lies with the state through the federal government or the public prosecutor.

With the issuance of the detailed verdict, the high court has formally recorded the grounds on which the petition against Shehbaz Sharif’s acquittal was rejected.