Case against Suleman Shahbaz, others: Court rejects challenge to its jurisdiction.

LAHORE -- A special judge (Central-I) on Monday rejected a challenge to its jurisdiction to hear a money laundering case against Suleman Shahbaz, the younger son of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and others and directed the defence counsel to continue arguments on the acquittal applications of the suspects.

Dismissing the objections by the defence, Presiding Judge Bakht Fakhar Bahzad observed that the court had the competent jurisdiction to conduct the trial in the case lodged by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Earlier, Suleman and other suspects appeared before the court along with their counsel.

Advocate Amjad Pervez, the defence counsel, argued that the NAB had also arrested the father and brother of Suleman in a reference filed under same allegations. He said the FIA delayed its investigation for one year after registration of the FIR.

He said the FIA submitted its challan after a delay of one year on repeated warning by the trial court. He said the agency did not describe the role of the bankers involved in the case and later referred their case to the State Bank of Pakistan for action.

The counsel said there was no public servant among the remaining suspects after the acquittal of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif...