ISLAMABAD: The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar has said that he won’t let anyone get away with money laundering.
The Supreme Court heard the case pertaining to money laundering by use of fake accounts today. It was reported by DG FIA Bashir Memon that in 29 accounts which have been opened in Sindh Bank and The United Bank there were many suspicious transactions. The OMNI group deposited 2082 million PKR in a fake account and some of that amount was also transferred to the Zardari group.
A transaction of 35 billion PKR was recorded in the fake account and the FIA has requested the Supreme Court to form a JIT.
The lawyer of Asif Ali Zardari and Faryal Talpur, Farooq H Naik has said that many people are being defamed in this trial and there should be a stop to the publicity of this trial. He said that the money laundering case is registered against Hussain Lawai and Summit Bank and that the name of Mr. Zardari wasn’t even mentioned in the FIR. However, the Chief Justice in response said that whoever has been named in the case must clear their names themselves.
The Chief Justice further asserted that the suspects in the case must appear before court, regardless of whatever physical shape they are in. The SC has ordered Anwar Majeed, Abdul Ghani, Ali Majeed and Samar Majeed to appear before court.
The lawyer of the prime suspect, Anwar Majeed said that Majeed is sick and is currently seeking treatment in Dubai. He said that his children are also out of country. The Chief Justice, however, inquired that if all members of the family are absent, who hired their advocate and asserted that the laws of the land are same for everyone regardless of their financial standing.
The DG FIA also said that witnesses to the case were being harassed and also that the total amount can be much greater than 35 billion PKR, arguing that the FIA needs more resources in order to hire a corporate lawyer and launch further inquiry.
Tariq Sultan, a witness to the case said that a fake account was registered in his name. The Chief Justice retorted that this is such a huge fraud and that the court will get to the bottom of this case without fear of any intimidation.
Another woman in whose name a fake account was registered said that she was called by the police at Gulistan Johar police station and was harassed by the police personnel who refused to leave her home till midnight. She said that after 5 days at her work, she was made to sign a form with regard to opening an account and has no further knowledge about the account. After her testimony the Chief Justice said that he was fully aware who sent the police and the Sindh government will have to pay if they interfere with the case proceedings.
Another woman who is apparently a fake account holder testified that she can’t afford to show up in court because of her financial status and that she has no knowledge of a fake account or the amount deposited in the account. DG FIA told the woman that in a account registered under her name 100 billion PKR are deposited. Another witness, Adnan also asserted that a fake account has been registered in his name and a total of 8 billion PKR have been deposited in that account.
The brother of the Summit Bank manager, Ahsan Shah said that he was harassed in Gizri Police Station and also that land mafia groups have occupied their lands in Larkana.
The Chief Justice highly condemned the IG of Sindh Police, Javed Saleemi and said that he will launch an inquiry into the actions of the Sindh police. He further said to the IG that he was fully cognizant of the people who the IG apparently works for and that he will bring this shady business under the inspection of the Prime Minister himself.
He has asked the IG to submit a full report regarding these harassments on Wednesday. The court has issued the notice of the separation of Karachi Police Chief Mushtaq Mehar from the case immediately and the next hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
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