LAHORE, Oct 8: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) told the Lahore High Court on Monday that 32 cases of fraud had been registered against the chief executive officer of Future Concern, a visa consultancy firm.

The Punjab FIA director general stated this before the court of Justice Syed Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi during hearing of several petitions against firm owner Asim Malik. The DG said the FIA would lodge more cases if more complaints were filed with the agency.

Justice Naqvi took strong notice of constant absence of accused Malik for the last many hearings. Malik had submitted a medical certificate pleading exemption from personal appearance and the court had rejected the same.

The judge also summoned the doctor who had issued him a medical certificate. The doctor, however, told the court on Monday he had not issued any certificate to Asim Malik.

On the other side, counsel for the accused stated that his client had been facing life threats and unable to appear before the court.

The judge, however, rejected the argument and issued a show-cause notice to Malik for committing contempt of court and directed the police to produce him on Oct 15.

Petitioners had alleged that they had given money to the company chief executive officer for going abroad, but they were defrauded. They said Asim Malik neither sent them abroad nor returned their hard-earned money.

dual nationality: A writ petition has been filed with the Lahore High Court seeking disqualification of Senator Dr Asim Husain on the basis of having dual nationality.

Advocate Noshab A. Khan filed the petition and stated that Senator Husain, also adviser to prime minister on petroleum and natural resources, possessed US citizenship and as such was a dual national.

He alleged that the respondent at the time of filing of nomination papers for Senate election made a false declaration that he was not a foreign national. The petitioner stated that the Supreme Court already disqualified all those parliamentarians who had dual nationality and even directed the election commission to get fresh declarations on oath from the legislators.

The lawyer said Dr Husain should be directed to submit his affidavit clarifying his nationality status. He also requested that the Senate secretary should be directed to confirm the dual nationality status of the respondent.

Advocate Khan prayed that the respondent should be removed from his office of adviser and should be restrained from functioning till final decision of the petition. Justice Ijazul Ahsan will take up the petition on Tuesday (today).