Shehbaz decides to file law suit against Daily Mail over ‘fabricated story’

LAHORE (92 News) – Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) president Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday, declaring the story of Daily Mail as fabricated and misleading – decided to file a law suit against UK-based newspaper. The opposition Leader announced his decision in social media micro-blogging website twitter. In his tweet, he said that the fabricated and misleading story was published at the behest of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Shahzad Akbar. “We will also launch legal proceedings against them,” he mentioned. “Btw IK has yet to respond to three such cases I filed against him for defamation,” Sharif added. “Have decided to file law suit against Daily Mail. The fabricated and misleading story was published at the behest of Imran Khan and Shahzad Akbar. We will also launch legal proceedings against them. Btw IK has yet to respond to three such cases I filed against him for defamation,” Shehbaz Sharif tweeted. The reaction came after Britain-based newspaper Daily Mail exposed an alleged money laundering scandal of PML-N president and Shehbaz Sharif from the UK government aid for earthquake victims in Pakistan. According to a confidential investigation report seen by Daily Mail, millions of pounds were transferred into the bank accounts of Shehbaz’s family members, including his wife, children and a son-in-law. Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar announced on Sunday to send the matter of alleged money laundering allegations on Shehbaz Sharif in an investigative story by UK’s daily Mail to the Inquiry Commission.

Talking to Channel 92 after disclosure of new allegations published in daily Mail’s story, Akbar said things are now crystal clear and the government would take the matter to the IC.

He said more arrests would be expected in the latest money laundering allegations, adding Shehbaz Sharif’s son Suleman Shehbaz is the main culprit in the laundering of UK aid fund for earthquake victims. Suleman Shehbaz was summoned to Pakistan several times in relation to the allegations, but he didn’t appear, Akbar further said. Akbar requested the UK government to extradite the suspects or give access to them. Responding to media report of ‘The Mail’ claiming Shehbaz Sharif allegedly laundered Britain’s aid worth millions of pounds reserved for the rehabilitation of earthquake victims, the PML-N rejected claims that Shehbaz Sharif, family embezzled millions given to Pakistan by the UK in aid.

Addressing a press conference, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb termed the report – an article published in UK’s media – baseless and a propaganda campaign.

She said the story was ‘planted’ in a tabloid paper. She said the paper was unreliable. She also mentioned that DFID rebutted the report. “Bring us these records, she demanded. Show the country proof of your claims,” she added. She said that the PML-N would sue the publication over the planted, unsubstantiated story. “The news was published through a controversial journalist [who works for a] UK newspaper and is based in Lahore on Imran’s behest,” claimed the PML-N spokesperson. She asked why the Daily Mail wasn’t reporting on the PTI’s 18 fake accounts.