The Punjab cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz, on Monday approved a 30pc increase in the salaries of government employees. Punjab government is all set to table an Rs3.22 trillion budget for fiscal year 2022-23. During the cabinet meeting today, it was decided to follow the example of the federal government and merge all ad-hoc relief.
A central figure in FIA’s Rs16 billion money laundering case against the Shehbaz Sharif family, Malik Maqsood Ahmad — frequently referred to as Maqsood ‘Chaprasi’ — has passed away in the UAE. Maqsood died of a cardiac arrest on June 6. He was 49, according to a death certificate issued by UAE authorities. Special Prosecutor Bajwa said Maqsood’s death would not impact the money laundering case.
The counsel for the Federal Investigating Agency (FIA) confirmed to a special court in Lahore on Saturday that the agency wanted to arrest Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz, in a Rs16 billion money laundering case. The court also reissued the arrest warrants for suspects Suleman Shehbaz, Tahir Naqvi and Malik Maqsood in the case.
The Punjab police have put on guard nearly 450 armed police personnel besides Elite Force commandos at the five residences and offices of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz in Lahore. The security has been enhanced after Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz have been elected prime minister and chief minister, respectively. Shehbaz has declared his residence at Model Town “PM’s Camp Office”.