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LHC Upholds Objection on Petition Challenging Shehbaz Sharif’s Acquittal
Lahore High Court sustains objection on maintainability of petition against PM Shehbaz Sharif and sons’ acquittal in Rs16bn money laundering case. FIA had not filed appeal.
ND
by News Desk
2026-03-24
LHC Upholds Objection on Petition Challenging Shehbaz Sharif’s Acquittal

The Lahore High Court on Tuesday upheld an objection regarding the maintainability of a petition filed against the acquittal of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his sons, Hamza Shehbaz and Suleman Shehbaz, in a Rs16 billion money laundering case.

The plea, filed by a young lawyer, was heard as an “objection case” by LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum. The court’s registrar had questioned the petitioner’s locus standi — the right to bring a case — arguing that the petitioner was not an aggrieved party.

During proceedings, Chief Justice Neelum asked the petitioner’s counsel, Amir Saeed Rawn, to explain how his client was directly affected by the acquittal. The counsel argued that the trial court’s December 2022 decision ignored substantial evidence and alleged collusion between the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the accused. He also contended that courts could entertain delayed petitions in matters of public interest.

The LHC chief justice, however, sustained the objection, noting that only the prosecution or defence could appeal criminal acquittals, and the FIA had not challenged the trial court’s verdict.

The money laundering case dates back to November 2020, when the FIA booked PM Shehbaz and his sons under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010. In October 2022, a special court acquitted PM Shehbaz and Hamza Shehbaz, citing no probability of conviction even if the investigation’s evidence were recorded. Suleman Shehbaz was acquitted by the trial court in July 2023.

The trial court had also directed the Establishment Division to take action against former Prime Minister adviser on accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar and FIA officials for launching a baseless prosecution. Akbar later filed an appeal challenging the trial court’s order, but it was dismissed in 2025 due to non-prosecution.

Legal experts say the LHC decision reinforces the principle that only the prosecution or defence has the right to challenge acquittals in criminal matters.
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