The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday submitted to the Supreme Court its first progress report on the ongoing investigation in the fake accounts case.
The Supreme Court had last month tasked NAB with probing the case after a joint investigation team report revealed that at least 29 bank accounts identified as fake had been used for money laundering to the tune of Rs 42 billion.
The report implicated former president Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur, prominent banker Hussain Lawai, Omni Group’s Anwar Majeed and other prominent bankers and businessmen.
The top court had given two months to NAB to conclude its investigation. It had also ordered the body to submit a progress report every 15 days. According to the report prepared by NAB Rawalpindi Director General Irfan Mangi, the anti-corruption watchdog has asked relevant departments for their records and is collecting additional evidence in order to determine whether a reference should be filed. Last month, NAB Chairman Javed Iqbal had formed a combined investigation team (CIT) in a high-level meeting to probe the case. It was decided that investigations into fake bank accounts and money laundering would be taken to their logical conclusion in the light of the judgement of the apex court and on the basis of solid evidence.
Normally when a complaint is filed with NAB, the bureau initiates an inquiry. In case credible evidence is found, the inquiry is turned into an investigation, after which it is decided whether or not a reference should be filed in an accountability court.
In this specific case, the prime minister’s Special Assistant on Accountability Shahzad Akbar had said that NAB will not go for an inquiry but will initiate investigation on the basis of the inquiry conducted by the JIT formed by the SC.
Meanwhile, the combined investigation teams of NAB left for Karachi on Friday to probe into the fake bank accounts case.
The teams are being headed by Director General NAB Rawalpindi division, Irfan Mangi. His sub-ordinates supervising the teams included Mohammad Younis Khan, Mohammad Gul Afridi, Deputy Director NAB, Mehboob Alam and Mohsin Ali.
Sources relayed that all the four teams will collect data from the Federal Board of Revenue and the State Bank of Pakistan apart from gathering records from the mills of Omni Group Chairman Anwar Majeed. “Notices will be dispatched to the accused persons after relevant records are collected.”
Provincial government officials will also be questioned regarding the money laundering of Rs1.32 billion.
Published in Daily Times, February 9th 2019.
