Friday, 26 October 2018

Money-laundering case: CJP summons CM Sindh over alleged non-cooperation

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and Sindh Shief Minister Murad Ali Shah
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Friday summoned Sindh Shief Minister Murad Ali Shah in his chambers over complaints of the provincial government’s non-cooperation in a probe against a mega money laundering scam.

The Supreme Court resumed hearing the case against fake bank accounts that were used to launder over Rs100 billion out of Pakistan, at its Karachi Registry today.

The head of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) Ahsan Sadiq was present in the court, along with other officials.

The court was told about the purported lack of cooperation from the Sindh government and other departments in the probe, at which Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar asked to meet Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah in his chamber.

The chief justice clarified that he was not summoning CM Murad but would meet him in his chamber regarding complaints that the Sindh government was not cooperating with the JIT.

Chief Secretary Sindh, in attendance before the court, informed that all records have been shared with the JIT. The JIT head acknowledged that all documents have indeed been received, but are yet to be scrutinised.

Chief Justice Nisar observed that Omni Group owed Rs23 billion and that he would summon response from the group after reviewing the final report on the matter.

The top judge remarked that all provincial chief secretaries have assured the court of cooperation in the case.

There will be strict action against those who fail to follow the court orders, he warned.

The case

The Federal Investigation Agency is investigating 32 people in relation to money laundering from fictitious accounts, including former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur.

Zardari’s close aide Hussain Lawai was arrested in July in connection with the probe. The former president's another close aide and Omni Group chairman, Anwar Majeed, and his son, Abdul Ghani Majeed, were also arrested by the FIA in August. Lawai, Majeed and his son remain under custody.

Earlier this week, FIA sources informed that the mastermind of the money laundering and fake accounts case, Aslam Masood, had been arrested by the Interpol from Jeddah.




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