An accountability court in Lahore has granted interim bail to Suleman Shahbaz, the son of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who recently returned to Pakistan after four years of self-exile, in a money laundering and assets beyond means case.

Suleman Shehbaz appeared with his lawyer Amjad Pervaiz before accountability court judge Qamar-uz-Zaman.

The judge instructed the lawyer to submit Suleman Shehbaz’s identity card in court. Suleman told the court that he did not have his CNIC and that he would bring it at the next hearing.

At this, the judge responded that the CNIC was required at the current hearing, while adding that as proof of identity, people ought to carry it on them.

In his plea for interim bail, Suleman argued that the National Accountability Bureau had nominated him in the money laundering reference without any reason. He said that bureau had concealed facts to have him declared as a proclaimed offender.

The court granted Suleman bail till January 7 while instructing him to join the investigation. It granted bail against surety of Rs500,000 while instructing NAB not to arrest him.