KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: An anti-corruption court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for former prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, former commerce minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim and others on Thursday after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) named them in the final investigation reports of a dozen cases pertaining to a multi-billion rupee trade subsidy scam.

The warrants constitute the second instance of legal action against leaders of the PPP in as many days. Dr Asim Hussain, a former petroleum minister and a close aide of Asif Ali Zardari, was arrested in Karachi on Wednesday on charges of financing terrorists.

Dr Hussain’s arrest and threats to the PPP leadership were also the subject of two separate PPP press conferences in the capital, where senior party leaders Syed Khursheed Shah, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Sherry Rehman and Faisal Karim Kundi denied all charges and insisted that the timing of these actions showed that they were aimed at preventing the party from reconsolidating its position in Punjab.


Senior party leaders warn of serious consequences if Asif Zardari is ‘victimised’


Mr Gilani and Mr Fahim, along with certain former and serving officials of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), were booked for their alleged involvement in the approval and disbursement of fraudulent trade subsidies, worth billions of rupees, to several fake companies through fictitious claims and backdated cheques during the tenure of the PPP.

Around 70 cases pertaining to a trade subsidy scam against two former chairmen, the former chief executive and other senior officials of TDAP and other individuals are pending before the same court. Mr Gilani and Mr Fahim were charge-sheeted in 12 of these cases last year, but both obtained bail. Indictments in these cases are expected to be issued on Aug 31.

The FIA submitted the final charge-sheets against several suspects in a dozen cases on Thursday. The charge-sheets also named both PPP leaders in five cases and separately charge-sheeted Mr Gilani in four and Mr Fahim in three cases. Both PPP leaders, who were not named in the interim charge-sheets of these cases, have been labelled absconders.

Federal Anti-Corruption Court judge Mohammad Azeem accepted the final charge-sheets for hearing on Thursday and issued warrants for the absconders, ordering the FIA to arrest them and produce them in court on Oct 10.

Meanwhile, Mr Gilani has said that he will appear before the Federal Anti-Corruption Court on Aug 31.

Talking to Dawn in Lahore, the former prime minister said he was surprised by the issuance of arrest warrants in his name and added that he had left it to his party to decide what position it would take over what he termed “unjust action against PPP leaders”.

Fiery presser

In a departure from his characteristically soft-spoken style, the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly warned the government: “There will be serious consequences if any action is taken against Asif Ali Zardari.”

He also hinted that the current government was either unaware of the ongoing action against the PPP or was deliberately keeping quiet and “enjoying the game”.

“The government should not show weakness and the PML-N should understand that only political parties, especially PPP, are their real strength,” he added.

He said that the PPP was ready to sit down and discuss the situation with the prime minister, but that they (the government) should decide if they want the country to be strengthened or weakened.

Mr Shah said that the cases against Dr Asim Hussain had been initiated without any investigation and that handcuffing Qasim Zia was a shameful act that did not behove a cultured society.

“Now we have come to know that they are fabricating grey trafficking cases against Raja Pervez Ashraf,” he said. “They are targeting Sindh only; is there no corruption in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan or Punjab?”

Later in the day, Ms Rehman and Mr Kaira said at a press conference that the misuse of anti-terror laws against the political opposition was deplorable.

Senator Rehman said the idea of the National Action Plan was floated by the PPP-led government in 2009, when a joint session of parliament was held to discuss terrorism and national security.

“But the main issue is that if such laws are being used for political victimisation, the utility of such strong laws will be diminished and they will only benefit terrorists,” she added.

She insisted that cases against PPP leaders were being framed in Punjab, KP and Sindh.

Mr Kaira also challenged terrorism charges that were being levelled at Dr Asim Hussain.

“We have been accused of being corrupt and we have always fought such charges in court, but these terrorism charges are absolutely unacceptable to us,” he said. “We have always fought and suffered at the hands of terrorists.”

He alleged that those who had links with terrorists were in the government, but did not name anybody.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan turbulence
Updated 19 Mar, 2024

Afghan turbulence

RELATIONS between the newly formed government and Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban rulers have begun on an...
In disarray
19 Mar, 2024

In disarray

IT is clear that there is some bad blood within the PTI’s ranks. Ever since the PTI lost a key battle over ...
Festering wound
19 Mar, 2024

Festering wound

PROTESTS unfolded once more in Gwadar, this time against the alleged enforced disappearances of two young men, who...
Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...