LAHORE: A judicial magistrate has initiated the process to declare Farhat Shahzadi, a friend of former prime minister Imran Khan`s wife Bushra Bibi, as a proclaimed offender for not appearing in a money laundering case instituted by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The magistrate gave the `last opportunity` to Ms Shahzadi to ensure her appearance before a court within 30 days.

The FIA in a report told the magistrate that the suspect escaped from her house to avoid appearance before the court. It said the warrants issued for the arrest of the suspect could not be executed as she went into hiding.

The agency asked the magistrate to start the process to declare the suspect a proclaimed offender.

Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Virk warned that on her failure to join the proceedings, the court would issue a proclamation against the suspect under section 87 of the CrPC.

The FIA registered a case against Ms Shahzadi and her husband Jamil Gujjar on the recommendation of the Anti-Corruption Establishment.

It alleged that during the inquiry, it transpired that Ms Shahzadi had accumulated crime proceeds through corruption and bribery.

The couple is said to have moved abroad since the PML-N-led coalition government took over in April.