The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team in Rawalpindi has prepared its initial report into the fake bank accounts case, a private TV channel reported on Sunday quoting sources.
The NAB is currently investigating 16 different cases pertaining to fake accounts. A combined investigation team has also been constituted in the light of JIT report to process probe to the next stage. Further record has also been summoned from the relevant officials.
NAB Rawalpindi Director General Irfan Naeem Mangi, who was a member of the joint investigation team (JIT) formed to probe the Panama Papers case against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, has been conducting investigations into the case pertaining to fake bank accounts, in which Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah have been accused of laundering billions of rupees.
The JIT in its report has accused 172 people of having fake bank accounts and indulging in money laundering, following which their names were placed on the exit control list (ECL). However, Bilawal and Murad Ali Shah’s names have been removed from the no-fly list after the Supreme Court’s orders. The Supreme Court has directed NAB to submit a report every 15 days about progress into the investigation. Zardari and Talpur have already filed a review petition against the Supreme Court’s decision in the case.
Published in Daily Times, February 4th 2019.
