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Fake accounts case referred to NAB Rawalpindi
ISLAMABAD: After three days of deliberations in the light of the Supreme Court’s orders, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal has referred the fake bank accounts and money laundering case to the bureau’s Rawalpindi office.
Now Rawalpindi NAB Director General Irfan Mangi, who was a member of the joint investigation team (JIT) in Panama Papers leak case against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, will supervise the case against former president Asif Ali Zardari, other top leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and real estate tycoon Malik Riaz.
The Supreme Court in its judgement had directed the NAB to file a reference against the accused in the accountability court, Rawalpindi / Islamabad and not at Karachi.
“Investigation against Bilawal and Murad Ali Shah will continue but their names will be removed from ECL,” Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had said.
The same officer who was part of JIT in Panama Papers case will supervise the matter against Zardari, Malik Riaz
Initially, the NAB starts an inquiry on a complaint and in case some credible evidences are found the inquiry is turned into an investigation and after that it is decided whether a reference should be filed in the accountability court or not.
In this specific case Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Accountability Shahzad Akbar had said the NAB will not go for an inquiry but will start investigation on the basis of inquiry conducted by the JIT formed by the Supreme Court.
The JIT in its report has accused 172 people of having fake bank accounts and indulging in money laundering. They include PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Faryal Talpur, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz.
According to the Supreme Court’s order, over 170 accused including Asif Zardari, Faryal Talpur and Malik Riaz will continue to remain on the ECL. The court asked the anti-corruption watchdog to conclude its investigation within two months.
Those found guilty of corruption will have two options: either to face a reference or ask for a plea bargain.
While the JIT had recommended 16 references against the accused, it was up to NAB how it would treat them.
During the NAB investigation the accused will have to tell that how Bahria Town grew in Karachi and how state land was handed over to it.
The government has claimed that an inquiry into fake accounts had been started in 2015 by then interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2019
Comments (21) Closed
Salam Sir: So what happens to NY Flat non-disclosure? Has PTI changed its mind or that the earlier claim by PTI was incorrect?
I say to NAB: get on with the case, if you have solid evidence with proofs then don't delay, because, NAB's integrity depends upon this fake accounts case. And, nation will be monitoring the progress with expected results and culprits behind bars for their corrupt practices and black activities. Good luck!
Investigation on why Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan never initiated the case and why he kept quite even knowing about M/L and payments from the fake accounts. He is also as guilty as Zardari and other culprits.
Hope this case is a short one. And I hope the verdict puts Zardari away for many many years.
That same officer is pressure immune. Hence the accused may opt for plea bargain, and pay max amount back.
Fake accounts and money laundering are all peas in the same pod.
life hereafter has only two option.. heaven or hell..... no other option.....
I am great fan of Zardari politics. I even rate him higher than Benazir. He is the one who gave up powers of President when he was President. He is the one who gave autonomy to provinces in financial matters by 18 amendment thus blocking the way for boys to take most of the funds of the country. But unfortunately he is labeled as Mr.10 percent and corrupt. One wonders what he will do by amassing wealth. He can contribute alot to politics and his name could be written in Golden words in the history of Pakistan but unfortunately he has chosen the other path that put him to stand with the corrupt. Very unfortunate.
Hope this comes to a logical and swift conclusion. Legal loopholes have been misused to safeguard the corruption of a few elites. The poor public suffers as a result. Hope new CJ will personally make sure this case is dealt with as a priority, since it involves corruption of unprecedented magnitude.
Sure Mangi as a hero, will uphold his reputation
Send all those looters behind bars sooner than later.
Whole pmln is silent on this Zardari serious case... truly, political interests > national interests
Hope Cough up the looted money from AAZ and rest of the accused
@Mansur Ul Haque, very unfortunate... Zardari is being praised as a great politician...What pity....
@Mansur Ul Haque,
A gifted swindler. Agreed.
@Mansur Ul Haque, did all that for his own gain and money
@Mansur Ul Haque, sahib please wakeup.
Public Money is being spent on "fake bank accounts investigation and trials. what Pakistani public would achieve?
Nawaz Sharif has been moved to Lahore, so the room is vacant, in fact, 2 rooms, one for Bilawal too, ultimately both will be there.
@BHANGI CHAMAR, Will be happy to see the criminals, thugs and money launderers in Jail.
@Mansur Ul Haque, Do you know, how he came in power, he is NOT even FA Pass? Looks like you are also from Zardari Tribe.