Court seeks prosecution arguments on acquittal pleas of PM’s daughter, son-in-law

LAHORE: An anti-corruption court on Tuesday sought arguments from the prosecution on acquittal applications filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s daughter Rabia and son-in-law Ali Imran Yousaf in a case concerning alleged irregularities in the Punjab Saaf Pani Company.

During the hearing, Advocate Misbahul Hassan completed his submissions on behalf of the couple. He told the court that there was no evidence connecting his clients to the alleged offence and argued that they had been nominated in the case only because of their relationship with the prime minister.

The defence counsel requested the court to accept the applications and acquit the couple, maintaining that the allegations against them were baseless. He also pointed out that all other accused persons in the same case had already been acquitted by the trial court.

Judge Javaid Iqbal Warraich adjourned the proceedings until Wednesday and directed the state prosecutor to present arguments at the next hearing.

Investigation findings placed before court

The development came after the anti-corruption establishment informed the court the other day that its investigation had found the couple innocent.

Rabia and Ali Imran Yousaf were accused of obtaining illegal financial benefit by renting out their plaza in Gulberg, Lahore, to the Saaf Pani Company for use as its office.

The case relates to alleged irregularities in the Punjab Saaf Pani Company, and the latest hearing focused on whether the couple should be acquitted in light of the defence arguments and the investigation findings already shared with the court.

With the defence having concluded its submissions, the court has now called upon the prosecution to respond before taking the matter further.

The court is expected to resume proceedings after hearing the prosecution’s stance on the acquittal pleas.