LAHORE, Oct 15: The Lahore High Court on Monday once again issued non-bailable arrest warrants of chief executive officer of a visa consultancy firm and also directed State Bank of Pakistan to provide complete information to the Federal Investigation Agency about the bank accounts of the accused.

Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi also expressed his dismay over the police failure to arrest Asim Malik, CEO of Future Concern, the visa consultancy firm. He directed DIG (Operations) to ensure arrest and production of the accused by next hearing on Oct 22.

Investigation officer of FIA told the court that 10 more cases had been registered against the accused while a formal request had been made to State Bank of Pakistan to provide details of bank accounts operated by the accused. However the bank had not given any response so far, he added.

At this, Justice Naqvi issued direction to the SBP to immediately provide the details sought by the investigation team. The judge also directed the FIA to complete investigation and submit challan against the accused before the trial court.

The judge was hearing dozens of petitions filed by the affectees of the visa consultancy firm. Petitioners alleged that they had given money to the company’s chief executive officer for going abroad but they were defrauded. They said Asim Malik neither sent them abroad nor returned their money.

Fitness certificates: The Lahore High Court on Monday adjourned hearing of a petition challenging a decision of the Punjab government to engage a private company for issuing fitness certificates to vehicles.

A citizen, Khalid Pervaiz, filed the petition and contended that the Transport Department had decided to award a contract to a private company for issuing fitness certificates to vehicles. He said the commuters would face problem if a private firm was given the permission to issue fitness certificates.

He pointed out that the fee for a certificate was Rs300, however, after the contract with the private company it would raise to Rs1500.

The petitioner prayed to the court to restrain the government from finalising the contract with the private firm.

During the course of hearing, Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan observed that it was much easier for public to get fitness certificates even for their unfit vehicles and these vehicles caused air pollution on roads. He also remarked that the government had right to hire services of any company.

The judge adjourned further hearing for two weeks and asked the petitioner’s counsel to come up with more arguments.