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                        <title>The Express Tribune</title>
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                        <description>The Express Tribune keeps you up to date with all the latest happenings from Pakistan and across the world!</description>
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			<title>NICL land scam: Makhdoom Amin Fahim gets 10-day protective bail</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/530234/nicl-land-scam-makhdoom-amin-fahim-gets-10-day-protective-bail</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/530234/nicl-land-scam-makhdoom-amin-fahim-gets-10-day-protective-bail#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Apr 13 21:12:29 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Court directs him to surrender before the Anti-Corruption Court within stipulated time.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Sindh High Court granted protective pre-arrest bail to the Pakistan People’s Party-Parliamentary (PPP-P) president and former federal minister, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, in the 2009 National Insurance Corporation Limited (NICL) land scam case.

Former federal minister commerce, among six others, has been accused of causing financial losses to the national exchequer by violating procurement rules in the purchase of a piece of land in Korangi for NICL.



On Tuesday, Amin Fahim’s lawyer, Rasheed A Rizvi, told the judge that the FIA had earlier filed an interim charge sheet in the same case before the trial court on December 6, 2012, which did not contain Amin Fahim’s name. The final charge-sheet submitted by the FIA to the trial court on December 29, 2012 also did not contain the applicant’s name, he claimed.

In the supplementary charge-sheet in the same case, however, the FIA with malafide intentions has implicated Amin Fahim, he alleged. The lawyer claimed that his client and his family had denied all the allegations leveled against them, including the appointment of Ayaz Khan Niazi and purchase of ten acres of land in Korangi. Therefore, he should be admitted to protective bail for two weeks to surrender before the trial court, Razvi pleaded to the court. After hearing the arguments, Chief Justice Mushir Alam granted protective bail to the applicant Amin Fahim in the sum of Rs500,000 for ten days, directing him to surrender to the federal Anti-Corruption Court within the stipulated time. The trial court had issued non-bailable warrants on Monday for his arrest along with five other absconding co-accused, allegedly involved in the scam.

Lingering case 

The court case is based on a written complaint by the former secretary of the commerce ministry, sent to the FIA on November 16, 2010, alleging financial embezzlement in the purchase of land by the NICL.

The secretary had requested the investigating agency to register a case regarding alleged embezzlement of NICL funds in the purchase of 10 acres of land in August 2009 in Korangi.



The secretary highlighted that the transaction had been made against Rs90 million per acre and requested the FIA to conduct an inquiry and fix responsibility on those involved. Subsequently, FIA’s commercial bank circle had registered FIR 21/2010 under Section 409, 420, 468, 471 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act-II 1947 and initiated inquiry into what has now become one of the largest scandals to engulf the former government.

The prosecution alleged that the then federal minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim, had illegally appointed then NICL chairperson, Ayaz Khan Niazi, and embezzled Rs900 million. On Monday, a FIA’s investigator had told the federal Anti-Corruption Court that investigation into the scam had revealed involvement of former minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim, former commerce secretary Salman Ghani, NICL ex-director Amin Qasim Dada, former board member Javed Syed and two other individuals - Khalid Anwar Khan and Amir Hussain.

Seeking more time to track down the absconding accused and complete the investigation, the FIA had sought time from the trial court. The judge had, however, issued non-bailable warrants for arrest of all the six absconding accused, including Amin Fahim, with direction to the FIA to arrest and produce them in court by April 10.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2013.]]>
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			<title>NICL scam: Amin Faheem granted protective bail</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/530110/nicl-scam-amin-faheem-granted-protective-bail</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/530110/nicl-scam-amin-faheem-granted-protective-bail#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Apr 13 15:34:47 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Sindh High Court grants Amin Faheem with a ten-day protective bail after a warrant for his arrest was issued.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Former commerce minister Makhdoom Amin Faheem was granted a ten-day protective bail by the Sindh High Court in the 2009 National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) land scam case, Express News reported.

The federal anti-corruption court had on Monday issued bailable warrants for Faheem’s arrest and five others co-accused in the corruption case.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was ordered to arrest the absconders and present them before the court on April 12, after which the former minister filed a petition for protective bail in the Sindh High Court.

The court case is based on a written complaint by the former secretary of the commerce ministry, sent to the FIA on November 16, 2010, alleging financial embezzlement in the purchase of land by the NICL.]]>
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			<title>NICL scandal: Warrants issued for Amin Faheem, five others</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/529837/nicl-scandal-warrants-issued-for-amin-faheem-five-others</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/529837/nicl-scandal-warrants-issued-for-amin-faheem-five-others#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Apr 13 05:35:10 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[naeem.sahoutara]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=529837</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Court orders FIA to make arrests by April 14.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The federal anti-corruption court on Monday issued bailable warrants for the arrest of former commerce minister Makhdoom Amin Faheem and five other co-accused in the 2009 National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) land scam case.


Sanaullah Ghouri, the link judge of federal anti-corruption court, also ordered the Federal Investigation Agency to arrest the absconders and present them before the court on April 12. Amin Faheem, former commerce secretary Suleman Ghani, NICL ex-director Amin Qasim Dada, former board member Javed Syed and two individuals – Khalid Anwar Khan and Amir Hussain – have been booked for allegedly causing financial losses to the national exchequer by violating procurement rules in the purchase of a piece of land in Korangi.

Submitting an interim charge sheet in the court, FIA inspector Siraj Panhwar revealed that during investigations by the agency it had been revealed that the six people charged under the case had been involved in the scandal.

Investigations further revealed that Rs41 million was transferred from the account of Khawaja Akbar Butt to the accounts of Amin Faheem and his family, informed Panhwar.

Asking the court to grant more time, Panhwar said that investigations were still ongoing and the suspects were yet to be arrested. However, in view of the interim charge sheet, link judge Ghouri issued bailable warrants for the arrest of the accused.

The court case is based on a written complaint by the former secretary of the commerce ministry, sent to the FIA on November 16, 2010, alleging financial embezzlement in the purchase of land by the NICL.

The secretary had requested the investigating agency to lodge a case regarding alleged embezzlement of NICL funds in the purchase of 10 acres of land in August 2009 in Korangi.

The secretary highlighted that the transaction had been made against Rs90 million per acre and requested the FIA to conduct an inquiry and fix responsibility on those involved. Subsequently, FIA’s commercial bank circle had lodged FIR 21/2010 under Section 409, 420, 468, 471 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act-II 1947 and initiated inquiry into what has now become one of the largest scandals to engulf the former government.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2nd, 2013. ]]>
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			<title>NICL scam: Arrest warrants issued for Amin Fahim, other suspects</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/529526/nicl-scam-arrest-warrants-issued-for-amin-fahim-five-others</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/529526/nicl-scam-arrest-warrants-issued-for-amin-fahim-five-others#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Apr 13 12:55:21 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
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				<![CDATA[Fahim, who recently kicked off his election campaign, faces disqualification if convicted.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Arrest warrants were issued for Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) President Makhdoom Amin Fahim and others suspects on Monday in connections with the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam, reported Express News.

The warrants were issued due to the suspects' failure to appear before the court despite being served notices.

Fahim, who recently kicked off his election campaign by addressing a public meeting in Bhanote, faces disqualification if convicted in the case.

Accused Habibullah Warraich, Akram Warraich and Mohsin Habib Warraich allegedly owe Rs420 million collectively to the NICL.

Rather than paying in cash, they provided 10 cheques to the NICL worth Rs42 million each. One of these cheques bounced. Following this Mohsin Warraich had fled to London, but he has decided to return to appear before the court.

The Supreme Court had remarked that the footprints of the financial irregularities that had been unearthed in hearings of the scandal could be traced back to the bank accounts of Fahim.]]>
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			<title>NICL scam: Mohsin Warraich to return to Pakistan next month</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/528729/nicl-scam-mohsin-warraich-to-return-to-pakistan-next-month</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/528729/nicl-scam-mohsin-warraich-to-return-to-pakistan-next-month#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 30 Mar 13 14:16:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Mohsin Warraich have agreed to return on condition that he would not be arrested.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The central figure of NICL scam case, Mohsin Habib Warraich, has decided to return to Pakistan from London next month and appear in front of the court, Express News reported on Saturday.

According to Federal Investigating Agency (FIA) sources, following Supreme Court orders FIA officials made contact with him. He agreed to return on the condition that he would not be arrested and an investigation will be carried out according to the statements he would record.

On the other hand, FIA sources also said that since Mohsin Waraich’s father, Habibullah Warraich, was a close friend of former President Pervez Musharraf, hence this is a trick played by the latter to get proofs against Moonis Elahi of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) president Makhdoom Amin Fahim and get them disqualified from contesting the upcoming general elections.

However, FIA sources further added that they will focus on the NICL case investigations and will act according to Supreme Court’s orders.

Accused Habibullah Warraich, Akram Warraich and Mohsin Habib Warraich allegedly owe Rs420 million collectively to the NICL. Rather than paying in cash, they provided 10 cheques to the NICL worth Rs42 million each. One of these cheques bounced. Following this Mohsin Warraich had fled to London.]]>
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			<title>Weekly fixtures: SC to resume Reko Diq, NICL scam cases</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/470885/weekly-fixtures-sc-to-resume-reko-diq-nicl-scam-cases</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/470885/weekly-fixtures-sc-to-resume-reko-diq-nicl-scam-cases#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 25 Nov 12 05:41:00 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[The court will hear the IB funds case on November 28.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court is set to resume some important cases, including the Karachi law and order situation case and the Reko Diq mining venture case, in the week commencing November 26.


A four-member bench, comprising Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany, Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Muhammad Ather Saeed, will take up the suo motu case regarding law and order situation in Karachi. Two different benches will hear routine cases during the week.

Prominent fixtures for the week also include a petition related to the Reko Diq exploration and mining joint venture in Balochistan; the multi-billion corruption scandal in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL); fortnightly compliance report of the National Accountability Bureau in the Rental Power Projects (RPPs) case and the misuse the Intelligence Bureau (IB) funds.

A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Gulzar Ahmad, will hear these cases.



The court will hear the IB funds case on November 28. It had earlier delinked the case from the Asghar Khan case for separate hearing after a news report claimed that the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party misused Rs270 million from IB funds to form a government of choice in Punjab.

The court has issued notices to the relevant authorities, Attorney General Irfan Qadir and the publisher of The Express Tribune, in this regard.

The court will also resume hearing the Reko Diq mining case from Monday. The International Arbitration Counsel is also hearing the case.

International companies investing in the project took the Balochistan government to the court, which will look into the legality of a lease agreement between the government and the foreign companies.

During last week’s hearing, Khalid Anwar, counsel for the Tethyan Copper Company Pakistan (TCCP), contended that his client had invested $80 million for mining of copper and gold in the vicinity after acquiring the lease license, and requested the court to allow TCCP to start the operation.



Anwer dispelled the impression that TCCP was ‘robbing’ the national mineral resources from Reko Diq, adding that no rules were relaxed while granting a lease license to the TCCP.

During proceedings, counsel for the Jamaat-e-Islami, Raza Kazim and former senator Muhammad Azam Swati requested the court to declare the agreement illegal and allow the provincial government to mine at Reko Diq.

On November 29, the same bench will also take up case related to the NICL scandal, while the out-of-turn land allotment to the Gun and Country Club by the Capital Development Authority has been fixed for November 30.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>NICL scam: ‘FIA was stopped from filing appeal against Elahi’s acquittal’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/459078/nicl-scam-%e2%80%98fia-was-stopped-from-filing-appeal-against-elahi%e2%80%99s-acquittal%e2%80%99</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/459078/nicl-scam-%e2%80%98fia-was-stopped-from-filing-appeal-against-elahi%e2%80%99s-acquittal%e2%80%99#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 01 Nov 12 05:22:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Shahbaz Rana]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Main accused still using official vehicle, parliamentary committee told.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Ministry of Law has barred the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from filing an appeal against the acquittal of Moonis Elahi in the multi-billion rupees National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) corruption case, according to a senior official of the agency.


In a testimony to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce, FIA Additional Director General (DG) Mohammad Afzal Malik said: “The Law and Justice Department did not allow filing [of the] appeal while arguing that grounds for the appeal were weak”.

Moonis, Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi’s son, is the main accused in two separate cases, filed against him and two other accused for receiving Rs320 million in kickbacks through the purchase of properties worth billions of rupees at exorbitant rates.

In the past, political pundits have argued that one of the reasons why the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) joined the government was to save Moonis.

FIA Additional DG Malik said that during FIA’s investigations it had been established that Habib Wariach, the seller in the Lahore property case, had transferred Rs320 million to Moonis by opening two bank accounts on the names of the employees of Moonis. He said that the deputy premier’s son was acquitted after witnesses turned hostile and changed their statements in court.

The Supreme Court had taken suo motu notice of reports of the embezzlement scam in the NICL in various land purchase deals, struck in Lahore, Karachi and Dubai. However, many influential people including the main accused (then chairman of NICL) secured bails.

The members of the standing committee observed that the FIA was under pressure by “higher authorities” in their desperate attempts to save the scion of a political family while Moonis’ “poor employees” were still under custody and were not even the main accused in the scam.

“I personally know a person who is in jail for last two years on charges of stealing a bicycle but in the multi-billion rupee corruption cases the main accused either have been acquitted or are on bail due to weak prosecution by the FIA,” said Khawaja Sohail Mansoor of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

FIA’s additional DG responded that in the 10-acre Korangi Land deal struck by the NICL, the FIA had recommended formally charge sheeting Commerce Minister Makhdoom Ameen Fahim after recovering money from his accounts. However, the Sindh High Court had barred the FIA from framing the charges until strong evidences were produced.

The commerce minister’s involvement surfaced last year when FIA Deputy Director Karachi Altaf Hussain told the Standing Committee on Commerce that in the 10-acre Korangi Land deal struck at Rs900 million, the proceeds were traced to 19 accounts, one of them jointly owned by Fahim and his son Jaliluzaman. He had disclosed that an amount of Rs24.44 million was transferred to the joint account for settling an outstanding loan.

Since these disclosures were not enough to surprise the participants, the NICL officials admitted that Ayaz Niazi – the principal accused and former chairman of the NICL – was still using the official car being run on taxpayers’ money. It was further revealed that the NICL is ready to offer the car to Niazi on book value and all other privileges that a chairman earns.

“A chairman who has paralysed the institution, himself fell from grace, brought so much infamy to the government, how can he avail these privileges,” asked Chairman of the Standing Committee on Commerce Khurram Dastgir.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Amin Fahim’s petition: SHC allows FIA last chance to file comments</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/425532/amin-fahim%e2%80%99s-petition-shc-allows-fia-last-chance-to-file-comments</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/425532/amin-fahim%e2%80%99s-petition-shc-allows-fia-last-chance-to-file-comments#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Aug 12 05:06:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Extends earlier interim order barring the agency from harassing the federal minister.]]>
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				<![CDATA[A Sindh High Court (SHC) division bench on Thursday granted the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) a week’s time to file comments in response to a petition by Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim.


At the same time, the bench, comprising Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Shafi Siddiqui extended an earlier interim order, which barred the agency from harassing or arresting the federal minister or his family members without due process of law, till the next hearing of the petition on September 9.

However, the bench made it clear in its order that if the agency failed to file its comments, the petition would be decided based on the material available on record in the next hearing. It also directed the FIA director to attend the next hearing in that case as well.

Earlier, standing counsel Asif Hussain Mangi appeared on behalf of the federal government alongside Additional Director Law Syed Israr Ali, and sought more time to file comments in response to Amin Fahim’s petition.

Fahim, in his petition, sought protection against harassment and possible arrest by the FIA in connection to the National Insurance Corporation (NICL) corruption case. He maintained that he and his family members had been falsely implicated in the case. The federal minister further claimed that FIA was continuing its investigations with the sole purpose of humiliating him and his family.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24th, 2012. ]]>
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			<title>Non-compliance: Special judge summons officials in NICL scandal</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/423664/non-compliance-special-judge-summons-officials-in-nicl-scandal</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/423664/non-compliance-special-judge-summons-officials-in-nicl-scandal#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 18 Aug 12 04:53:35 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[asad.kharal]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[They failed to attach properties of three proclaimed offenders in the case.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[In a court hearing concerning the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scandal, Special Judge Central Farooq Altaf has summoned Commissioner Karachi, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad and Assistant Commissioner Lahore Cantt to appear before the court on August 23.


Despite the fact that the court had issued multiple notices to the officials to attach the properties of the proclaimed offenders (POs) in the case, they have failed to act.

The three POs are identified as Mohsin Habib Warraich, the son of former state minister for defence production Major (retd) Habibullah Warriach, and Amin Qasim Dada and Javed Syed, who formerly sat on NICL Board of Directors

On July 25 the court issued reminder notices to these officials; however they did not comply with the court’s orders.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had requested the court to try the proclaimed offenders (POs) under section 88 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

Sources in the FIA stated that this procedure is adopted when the accused are declared POs and have not appeared before the court. It also authorises the agencies to make the offenders forgo their properties.

Sources told The Express Tribune that as requested by the FIA Punjab chapter, the court had ordered Commissioner Karachi, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad and Assistant Commissar Lahore Cantt to immediately seal properties of the three POs.

Four properties of Warraich include a house in Cavalry ground Lahore, a farm house in Defence Raya Club Lahore, land measuring 803 kanal 19 marlas situated in Mauza Toor Warraich, district Lahore and a bungalow in DHA Islamabad.

Syed bungalow situated in Islamabad and Dada’s in Karachi is also to be sealed.

The FIA initiated the probe because an amount of Rs420 million is yet to be recovered from the accused and despite being summoned by the court repeatedly, officials have failed to appear before the investigators.

Furthermore, a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan has directed the FIA to retrieve the liable amount as soon as possible and to utilise all possible means to attain the end.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Bureaucrats named in NICL scam have either fled or been set free: FIA tells NA panel</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/402760/bureaucrats-named-in-nicl-scam-have-either-fled-or-been-set-free-fia-tells-na-panel</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/402760/bureaucrats-named-in-nicl-scam-have-either-fled-or-been-set-free-fia-tells-na-panel#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 03 Jul 12 03:51:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[irfan.ghauri]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=402760</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Committee questions role of officials in commerce ministry.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Punjab chapter informed the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Commerce on Monday that most of the bureaucrats said to be involved in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scandal have either been set free or have fled the country.

The FIA’s latest report was submitted to the NA committee a day before the Supreme Court resumes hearing on the scam on Tuesday (today).

During the NA panel’s meeting, MNAs Yasmeen Rehman of the PPP and Kashmala Tariq of the PML-Q Likeminded along with others questioned the role of bureaucrats in the scam and asked officials concerned about action taken against them.

Officials from the ministry of commerce, NICL and FIA replied by saying all key suspects had left the country.

“We were told these officials were ‘censured’: a reply that does not qualify to be accepted,” said a member of the NA committee.

The panel also raised concerns over how then commerce secretary has been absolved from the saga. The committee members maintained that being the principal accounting officer, it was his responsibility to point out discrepancies and asked why the report had failed to mention his role.

“We said the matter falls under the domain of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), but ironically, the commerce secretary is also on SECP’s board of directors,” said another participant who appeared visibly displeased with the case’s progress.

Some members also expressed dissatisfaction over the decision of Khurram Dastagir of the PML-N, who also heads the NA committee, to abruptly cancel the panel’s second day meeting.

According to the inquiry report, Rs1.68 billion was paid to former minister of state Habibullah Warraich for 803 kanals of land in Moza Toor Warraich, Lahore. It is said the market value of the land was Rs0.2 million per kanal, but was purchased by NICL at an exorbitant rate of Rs2.1 million per kanal.

The report identifies 17 accused, including the chairman of NICL’s board of directors Ayaz Khan Niazi, another director on the board Naveed Zaidi, chief financial officer M Zahoor, general manager (law) Ijaz Ahmed Sheikh, general manager (audit) Syed Ali and general manager (real estate) Zahid Hussain amongst others. All of the mentioned have managed to secure bails.

The FIA’s report, which was compiled on June 26, names three other key suspects including two board directors of NICL Muhammad Javed Syed and Ameen Qasim Dada, and M/s Privilege Farms CEO Mohsin Habib Warraich. It added that the men had escaped to the UK.

In another transaction, NICL purchased a commercial plot of 20.2 kanals from Mohsin Warraich in 2009, also at an exorbitant sum. The report said NICL’s management purchased this plot for Rs1.06 billion against its market value of Rs150 million.

The report not only highlights the alleged involvement of Moonis Elahi, but also provides documentary evidence on how Mohsin Warraich transferred around Rs220 million to bank accounts opened under fictitious names by Elahi. It also mentions the overseas bank accounts of Warraich, Elahi and their wives.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2012.]]>
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			<title>NICL scandal: Assets of three accused seized</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/401832/nicl-scandal-assets-of-three-accused-seized</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/401832/nicl-scandal-assets-of-three-accused-seized#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 01 Jul 12 05:44:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[asad.kharal]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=401832</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[NA panel asks for detailed progress report.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has completed the confiscation of assets of three offenders wanted in the multi-billion rupee National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scandal.


Official documents reveal that the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Commerce has also asked for a detailed update on the investigation plan.

A meeting of the committee will be held on July 3, under the chairmanship of MNA Engineer Khurram Dastagir.

The deputy directors of FIA Lahore and Karachi, Basharat Mehmood Shahzad and Altaf Hussain, will appear before the panel with a progress report of the Punjab and Sindh chapters of the case, sources told The Express Tribune.

The FIA completed confiscating the assets of Mohsin Habib Warraich, son of former state minister for defence production Major (retd) Habibullah Warraich, and former directors on the NICL board Amin Qasim Dada and Javed Syed.

Four assets owned by Mohsin were confiscated, including two houses and two plots in Lahore.

Syed’s house in Islamabad and a car were confiscated, while a house in Karachi owned by Dada was also confiscated.

The assets were taken over upon the FIA’s request under Section 88 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, according to official documents.

Mohsin is alleged to have sold a piece of land for nearly twice its actual price to the NICL.

The total liable amount owed is Rs420 million. His uncle provided 10 post-dated cheques of Rs42 million each earlier this year, but the first of these cheques bounced.

The three wanted men had escaped abroad as soon as the NICL scandal surfaced. Despite the FIA having contacted Interpol, the extradition of these individuals has so far remained unsuccessful.

The FIA also sent a reminder to the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) in the UK, requesting more information about the accounts of Mohsin and Chaudry Moonis Elahi.

The SOCA, however, replied saying they could only act in accordance with UK laws and would provide information about the men accordingly.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1st, 2012.]]>
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			<title>NICL scandal: Commission recommends action against Ch Shujaat, Rehman Malik</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/391530/nicl-scandal-commission-recommends-action-against-ch-shujaat-rehman-malik</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/391530/nicl-scandal-commission-recommends-action-against-ch-shujaat-rehman-malik#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 10 Jun 12 04:14:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=391530</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Report says Malik tried to exert pressure on former FIA DG; blames PML-Q for targeting judiciary.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A report put out by a commission investigating the National Insurance Company Limited scam has implicated former interior minister Rehman Malik and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid chief for trying to shield Moonis Elahi, the chief accused in the case, and run down the judiciary.


The 72-page report available with The Express Tribune recommended legal action against former interior minister Rehman Malik and PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain for political expediency in favour of Moonis in the NICL scandal as well as for launching a campaign against the judiciary.

Former judge of the Supreme Court Justice (retd) Ghulam Rabbani was appointed to conduct the inquiry and submit a report on the Supreme Court’s August 8, 2011 in the suo motu case relating to the involvement of Moonis in the NICL scandal.

“Whether before suspending Zafar Ahmad Qureshi (who was incharge of the FIA team investigating the NICL scandal), pressure was exerted upon him by the interior minister … as it has been reported in the newspapers, ie, The Express Tribune and one other English daily due to political expediency, if so, to what consequences?” the report read.

“Responsibility shall be fixed individually or collectively against the persons responsible for making investments to run the campaign against the judiciary on the electronic media as it has been noted hereinabove,” the second term of reference stated.

The inquiry report also mentioned a report in The Express Tribune regarding the scandal and the involvement of Malik and Ch Shujaat and summoned the newspaper’s reporter Asad Kharal. “In a meeting with Malik on Sunday (July 3, 2011), sources told The Express Tribune that Qureshi had allegedly been given three options: go on long leave, declare Moonis Elahi not guilty or face severe action.”

“Having so observed, I am left with no option but to hold Mr Abdur Rehman Malik, the interior minister, responsible for making conscious efforts to exert pressure upon Zafar Qureshi, more particularly, in derogation of an order of the apex court passed on July 1, 2011; and is liable to be dealt with in accordance with the law,” the contents of the report read.

Regarding Ch Shujaat’s involvement, the report stated that the name of Moonis appears twice in an advertisement. “It is not a secret that he (Moonis) is a very close relative of those who are very prominent in the whole set-up of PML-Q and the possibility of their interest to get the advertisement aired for his benefit, which is evident from its contents, cannot be rule out.”

It further stated that the overall responsibility of running the campaign in question lies on the PML-Q chief.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>NICL scam: Inquiry commission for legal action against Rehman Malik, PML-Q chiefs</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/390863/nicl-scam-inquiry-commission-for-legal-action-against-rehman-malik-pml-q-chiefs</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/390863/nicl-scam-inquiry-commission-for-legal-action-against-rehman-malik-pml-q-chiefs#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Jun 12 17:10:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=390863</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Malik had influenced case investigation by pressuring FIA team. PML-Q had launched campaign against judiciary.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The inquiry commission, investigating the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) Rs5.34 billion scam, presented its report on Friday. It implicated former interior minister Rehman Malik and Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q) chief for launching a campaign in favour of Moonis Elahi, the chief accused in the case, Express News reported on Friday.

The commission’s report suggested that legal action be taken against Malik and PML-Q chief Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

The commission had compiled a 72-page report after taking into account statements from all the witnesses, and available documentary evidence. It concluded that Malik had used his position to pressurise Zafar Qureshi, who was incharge of the FIA team investigating the NICL scandal.

The report also noted that PML-Q chief was responsible for running a campaign to discredit the judiciary. Hence, action against them, as per contempt of court ought to be taken, the report suggested.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who was presiding over the case, had taken note of reports in newspapers last July that Qureshi had been pressurised, and was subsequently removed from the team investigating the NICL scam. The chief justice had then formed an inquiry commission in August to investigate the matter.]]>
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			<title>Ephedrine and NICL cases: SC asks why two federal ministers not arrested</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/390519/ephedrine-and-nicl-cases-sc-asks-why-two-federal-ministers-not-arrested</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/390519/ephedrine-and-nicl-cases-sc-asks-why-two-federal-ministers-not-arrested#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Jun 12 03:23:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=390519</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ANF, FIA officials questioned regarding failure to take action against Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Makhdoom Amin Fahim.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Hearing both the Ephedrine and NICL cases on Thursday, the Supreme Court questioned why two federal ministers from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), each allegedly involved in either case, have not been arrested.


Questioning Brigadier Faheem, Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Rawalpindi Regional Directorate Force Commander, while hearing the Ephedrine case, the court asked him why federal minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin had not been arrested after ANF investigations revealed he approved the illegal ephedrine quota.

Brig Faheem maintained the bureaucracy was creating hindrances for the ANF to proceed against suspects in the case. He added that the chief executives of the two pharmaceutical companies involved in the case had been arrested for investigation.

Meanwhile, hearing the NICL case, the court expressed displeasure over the failure of the Commerce Secretary and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to take any action against federal minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim.

“Why have you not arrested him (Fahim) after his involvement in the scam has been established?” the Chief Justice asked FIA Sindh Director Moazzam Jah.

The court observed Fahim had approved Ayan Khan Niaz’s appointment as National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) chairman without proper certification before the huge sum had been embezzled. The court also probed the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan in this regard. The Chief Justice asked FIA officials why the money had not been recovered from foreign accounts as well.

The court also expressed displeasure with Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood’s visit to China. FIA officials were also asked why no appeal against the acquittal of Moonis Elahi, son of Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q) senior minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, had been filed.

Noting that six FIA director generals had been changed during the case proceedings, the court observed the government had made deliberate attempts to save the ‘influential’. The main suspects in the case, close to former FIA director general Waseem Ahmad, had been given an opportunity to flee, it added. The court also maintained two anti-terrorism courts in Karachi probing the NICL case had yet to be made functional by the government since the names of the federal minister and his family surfaced in their proceedings as well.

It directed FIA to not consider the court’s decree meaningless and take action against Fahim.

“If you come from Karachi, spending huge amounts, without any progress then send us such insignificant papers through the post office,” the Chief Justice advised FIA officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>NICL Scam: SC displeased over commerce secretary's absence</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/390178/nicl-scam-sc-displeased-over-commerce-secretarys-absence</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/390178/nicl-scam-sc-displeased-over-commerce-secretarys-absence#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 07 Jun 12 06:53:50 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=390178</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Commerce secretary on visit at Zardari's behest, chief justice says president 'should know consequences of...]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, displeased by Federal Commerce Secretary Zafar Mehmood’s visit to China at the behest of President Asif Ali Zardari, remarked that the president “should know the consequences of such actions,” Express News reported on Thursday.

The chief justice made this statement while hearing the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) Rs5.34 billion scam case in which the Supreme Court had earlier ordered for legal proceedings to be carried out against Federal Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim and others involved in the case.

A three-member bench of the apex court, presided by the chief justice and comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Amir Hani Muslim, was hearing the suo moto case.

The main accused in the NICL scandal have categorically refused to deposit the Rs420 million liable amount owed to NICL.

Earlier, Mohsin Habib Warraich, the principal accused in the case and son of former state minister for defence production Major (retd) Habibullah Warraich, claimed the Rs420 million amount was “unjustified.”]]>
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			<title>NICL scam: Court questions Amin Fahim’s probe immunity</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/383955/nicl-scam-court-questions-amin-fahim%e2%80%99s-probe-immunity</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/383955/nicl-scam-court-questions-amin-fahim%e2%80%99s-probe-immunity#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 25 May 12 04:51:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[azam.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=383955</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Notices regarding appointment of NICL chairman issued.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim was the focus point during the Supreme Court’s proceedings into the multi-billion scam of the National Insurance Company Limited on Thursday.


A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, expressed disappointment over Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Sindh Director Muazzam Jah’s and Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood’s reluctance to investigate Makhdoom of Hala’s alleged misappropriation of funds.

The court reprimanded both officials and directed them to follow the set procedure of investigation as followed in various judgments of the apex court.

Chief Justice Chaudhry ordered the FIA to provide copies of Amin Fahim’s recorded statement to the registrar or the court’s assistant.

He said that the commerce minister had given a statement, claiming he was not aware about any transactions made under his name, adding that his manager, Ahsan, managed his financial matters. However, if the prime minister of the country could be penalised for not fulfilling his responsibility, then why should a minister be spared, the chief justice asked rhetorically.

The court also ordered the submission of a report entailing the details of transactions made under the scam, as well as an explanation as to why an illegal summary, signed by Fahim, was forwarded to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani for approval.

During the proceedings, Jah submitted that three cases were lodged against the loss of Rs490 million to the NICL, while adding that the entire amount was recovered.

He informed the court that Rs40.05 million was transferred to Amin Fahim’s family’s joint account, shared by his son Jaliluz Zaman and his wife Rizwana Amin Fahim.

The amount, he added, was obtained after selling a plot to Khawaja Akbar Butt. However, when Butt failed to clear the outstanding amount, the sale deed was challenged by Amin Fahim in the Sindh High Court and the court subsequently annulled it.

The court was informed that Amin Fahim returned Rs40.05 million to Khawaja Akbar Butt, the front man of one of the main accused, the late Zafar Saleemi. It was further informed that the FIA had deposited the amount back into the commerce ministry.

The court, however, remained unsatisfied and said that the investigation process should not have been stopped there.

The chief justice ordered that it should be found out why the money was taken and returned.

“Since you are an investigator, it is your responsibility to investigate all aspects instead of relying on the justification of the accused minister,” Chief Justice Chaudhry told Jah.

NICL chairman’s appointment

The court also issued notices to the former and incumbent chairmen of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), seeking an explanation as to why Ayaz Khan Niazi was appointed as NICL Chairman in violation of the Insurance Ordinance, 2012.

The commerce secretary told the court that Niazi was appointed at a time when his predecessor Salman Ghani, who is now retired, was in office. The chief justice remarked, “So what if he has retired; he is still alive and taking pension from the national exchequer.” He added that anyone responsible for wrong appointments should be held accountable.

Justice Jawwad maintained that the government is not authorised to appoint “an incompetent person” to head any institution.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>NICL scam: Court orders legal proceedings against Amin Fahim, others</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/383611/nicl-scam-court-orders-legal-proceedings-against-amin-fahim-others</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/383611/nicl-scam-court-orders-legal-proceedings-against-amin-fahim-others#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 May 12 10:20:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=383611</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[FIA Sindh Director informs court over Rs40m obtained by selling out NICL land transferred to Fahim's account.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[While hearing the suo motu case of the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) Rs5.34 billion scam on Thursday, the Supreme Court ordered that legal proceedings be carried out against Federal Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim and others involved in the case.

In today’s proceedings, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said that the plundered money belongs to the people of Pakistan and that it should be returned to them.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Sindh Director Moazzam Jah informed the court that over Rs40 million were transferred to Fahim's account, which is shared by his son Jaliluz Zaman and wife Rizwana Amin Fahim. He added that the amount was obtained after selling out a plot under NICL.

However, the money was later returned.

During that time, Fahim was heading the ministry of commerce.

The court ordered a probe into the hiring of Ayaz Khan Niazi, who was the chairman of the NICL when the scam was devised. The chief justice observed that Niazi was illegally appointed.

The chief justice ordered that it should be found out why the money was taken and returned.

During the hearing, notices were issued to former and current chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, seeking an explanation as to why Niazi was appointed.

It was further ordered that a report should be submitted to the court which entails the details of transactions made under the scam and also why an illegal summary, signed by Fahim, was forwarded to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani for approval.

The legal director of FIA and Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood were also present during the hearing.]]>
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			<title>NICL scam: SC to resume hearing in Rs5.34b land scandal</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/382359/nicl-scam-sc-to-resume-hearing-in-rs5-34b-land-scandal</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/382359/nicl-scam-sc-to-resume-hearing-in-rs5-34b-land-scandal#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 May 12 03:57:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[asad.kharal]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=382359</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Apex court has summoned attorney general, FIA DG for May 24 hearing.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court has summoned the attorney general (AG) of Pakistan, Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) director general (DG) and Punjab and Sindh directors to appear before the court on May 24 while hearing the suo motu case of the National Insurance Company Limited’s (NICL) Rs5.34 billion scam.


The apex court also served a notice on FIA’s former additional DG Zafar Ahmed Qureshi, who was the chief investigation officer of the multi-billion rupee land scandal, The Express Tribune has learnt.

A three-member bench, slated to hear the case on May 24, will be headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

After receiving the Supreme Court notices, FIA headquarters in Islamabad also directed the agency’s Punjab and Sindh directors as well as other team members to prepare progress/updated reports for the case investigating the violation of public procurement rules, which caused losses worth billions of rupees to the exchequer.

The FIA has failed to take any legal action despite the fact that the first post-dated cheque worth of Rs42 million presented by one of the accused, Akram Warraich – a director/shareholder of Farms Pvt Limited Company – bounced. The NICL’s management has asked the FIA in writing to take legal action against the accused.

Accused Habibullah Warraich, Akram Warraich and Mohsin Habib Warraich collectively owe Rs420 million to the NICL. Rather than paying in cash, they provided 10 cheques to the NICL worth Rs42 million each.

Akram Warraich on behalf of Privilege Farms Pvt Limited Company had presented these 10 post-dated cheques to the apex court as guarantee to ensure recovery of the remaining liable amount from Habibullah Warraich and other accused. After this assurance, the court granted conditional bails to the accused.

FIA’s Punjab chapter has not arrested any of the remaining accused yet including principal beneficiary Mohsin Habib Warraich – son of former state minister for defence production Major (retd) Habibullah Warraich – two former directors of the NICL board of directors Qasim Amin Dada and Javed Syed.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2012.]]>
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				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/382359-Money-1337659025/382359-Money-1337659025.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
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			</item><item>
			<title>Multi-Billion Scam: NICL scandal back in spotlight</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/371175/multi-billion-scam-nicl-scandal-back-in-spotlight</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/371175/multi-billion-scam-nicl-scandal-back-in-spotlight#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 28 Apr 12 04:26:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[asad.kharal]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=371175</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Notices issued to PML-Q president, AG Pakistan, DG FIA, FIA's Punjab director, Sindh director among others.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The multi-billion rupee land scandal in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) will soon be in the limelight again, as the Supreme Court readies to resume proceedings of the suo motu case on May 3, The Express Tribune has learned.


The apex court issued a notice to former additional director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Zafar Ahmed Qureshi, lead investigator in the scandal, to appear on May 3, official documents reveal.

Notices were also issued to the attorney general of Pakistan, FIA’s director general, FIA’s Punjab director along with his NICL investigation team, FIA’s Sindh director and his investigation team and PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, among others.

A three-member bench slated to hear the case on May 3 will be headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2012.]]>
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			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/371175-moneycashille_1735799875/371175-moneycashille_1735799875.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
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			<title>NICL case: Rs42m cheque bounces as NICL payback stalls</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/365870/nicl-case-rs42m-cheque-bounces-as-nicl-payback-stalls</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/365870/nicl-case-rs42m-cheque-bounces-as-nicl-payback-stalls#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 17 Apr 12 03:35:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[asad.kharal]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=365870</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The first of a series of ten cheques was of BoP’s Township branch in Lahore.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A cheque of Rs42 million, presented by the Farms Pvt Limited’s director Akram Warraich in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam as a guarantee for depositing the liable amount of Rs420 million, is reported to have bounced.


This was one of the ten post-dated cheques, totalling around Rs420 million.

The accused Habibullah Warraich, Akram Warraich and Mohsin Habib Warraich collectively owe Rs420 million to the NICL. Rather than paying in cash, they provided 10 cheques to the NICL worth Rs42 million each.

The NICL management presented the cheque dated for the month of April, in the name of the Bank of Punjab’s Township branch in Lahore.

However, according to sources, the cheque bounced since there were no funds in the account.

Some of the accused who were arrested include Mohsin Habib Warraich, son of former state minister for defence production Maj (retd) Habibullah Warraich.

NICL’s management has informed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to take legal action against Warraich, in addition to ensuring the full recovery of Rs420 million.

The accused Akram Warraich, on behalf of the Privilege Farms Pvt Limited Company, had presented the cheque, while submitting a plea to the court, seeking bail of Mohsin Warraich.

The court had already granted conditional bail to Habibullah Warriach.

Now, the FIA authorities are reluctant to approach the court for the purpose of cancelling the bail of the accused, sources informed The Express Tribune. At the same time, the FIA authorities are reluctant to lodge an FIR against the accused under section 489-F, according to sources.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2012.]]>
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			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/365870-NICLlogo-1334633724/365870-NICLlogo-1334633724.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
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			</item><item>
			<title>NICL scam case: Repayment cheque worth Rs42 million bounces</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/365594/nicl-scam-case-repayment-cheque-worth-rs42-million-bounces</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/365594/nicl-scam-case-repayment-cheque-worth-rs42-million-bounces#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 16 Apr 12 17:18:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=365594</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The case is still being heard in the court however names of the accused have been removed from the ECL.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[One of the repayment cheques worth Rs42 million, submitted to the National Insurance Company Ltd (NICL) by the accused, bounced on Monday, Express News reported.

The scam accused Habibullah Warraich, Akram Warraich and Mohsin Habib Warraich collectively owe Rs420 million to the NICL. Rather than paying in cash, they provided 10 cheques to the NICL worth Rs42 million each.

One of the cheques, which was supposed to be cashed on April 4, bounced.

Though the case is still being heard in the court, names of the accused have been removed from the Exit Control List (ECL).

Ex-chief of NICL says he is innocent

Former chairman of the NICL Ayaz Khan Niazi maintains he has done nothing wrong nor will he flee the country.

“I have full confidence in the judiciary and I will be acquitted in all cases instituted against me,” he said confidently.]]>
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			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/365594-NICLlogo-1334596029/365594-NICLlogo-1334596029.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
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			</item><item>
			<title>Niazi on ECL: Ex-chief of NICL says he is innocent</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/357714/niazi-on-ecl-ex-chief-of-nicl-says-he-is-innocent</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/357714/niazi-on-ecl-ex-chief-of-nicl-says-he-is-innocent#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 31 Mar 12 04:42:47 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=357714</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Ayaz Khan Niazi has says he has done nothing wrong nor will he flee the country.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Former chairman of the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) Ayaz Khan Niazi has said he has done nothing wrong nor will he flee the country.


“I have full confidence in the judiciary and I will be acquitted in all cases instituted against me.”

Talking to The Express Tribune Niazi said:

“The Supreme Court had not placed my name on the Exit Control List (ECL). The government had put me on the ECL. A medical board was constituted for me on the orders of the Supreme Court. On the basis of the medical board’s reports I was admitted to a hospital.  Citing the medical board’s reports I had applied for permission to visit Bangladesh for treatment. Since there was delay in getting an appointment with the relevant physician, I had to postpone my journey. When I reached Bangladesh and after undergoing medical examination I returned to Pakistan after a two-day stay there.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2012.]]>
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			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/357714-NICLlogo-1333168906/357714-NICLlogo-1333168906.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
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			</item><item>
			<title>Lax controls: Central figure in NICL scam flees to Dhaka</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/357266/lax-controls-central-figure-in-nicl-scam-flees-to-dhaka</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/357266/lax-controls-central-figure-in-nicl-scam-flees-to-dhaka#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 30 Mar 12 04:50:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[adil.jawad]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=357266</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The company’s ex-chairman left the country despite his name being on ECL.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Former National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) chairman and central suspect in its financial scandal, Ayaz Khan Niazi has managed to evade the Exit Control List (ECL) and flee the country.

Niazi had been facing corruption charges involving billions of rupees, in Karachi and Lahore, along with several other persons. His name had been included in the ECL along with other accused in the NICL scandal on the Supreme Court (SC) orders.

Sources told The Express Tribune, however, that the Karachi cases had gone without court hearing because no judge had been appointed as yet.

It is this lapse that allowed Niazi to arrange bail for all the cases against him.  He also succeeded in obtaining a written permission to leave the country for ‘one time only’ despite his name being on the ECL.

According to the sources, he availed this opportunity, leaving for Dhaka on March 24 by PIA’s flight PK-226.

Niazi had disappeared once before as well, around the time the cases were registered and his name was placed on the ECL. He went into hiding, but subsequently offered himself for arrest.

The cases against him and the others were registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) following a probe into the NICL scandal. The SC had taken suo motu notice of the scandal and directed the FIA to conduct an investigation into the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30th, 2012.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/357266-NICLlogo-1333082979/357266-NICLlogo-1333082979.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
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			</item><item>
			<title>Tribune’s Gamechangers 2011: Moonis Elahi &amp; Zafar Qureshi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/317563/tribune%e2%80%99s-gamechangers-2011-moonis-elahi-zafar-qureshi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/317563/tribune%e2%80%99s-gamechangers-2011-moonis-elahi-zafar-qureshi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 08 Jan 12 10:23:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=317563</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Political court battles par excellence.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Despite Zafar Qureshi’s efforts to prove MPA Moonis Elahi’s involvement in the multi-million rupee NICL scandal, the latter was acquitted by the Lahore High Court for “lack of evidence”.

The duo made it to news bulletins for a large part of the year as Qureshi repeatedly traced embezzled millions to Moonis’ bank accounts. But Moonis and his team put up a firm attitude of non-compliance with court orders until the trial finally stretched over a period so long that Qureshi retired from his post. Allegations of bogus bank accounts and money laundering aside, Moonis walked a free man as the Supreme Court watched his release in horror.

Quote of the year: “What is going on, Mr Attorney General?” CJP asked angrily of Maulvi Anwarul Haq, who was representing the federation in the case.]]>
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				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/317563-MoonisElahian_1735799875/317563-MoonisElahian_1735799875.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
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			</item><item>
			<title>Embezzlement trial: Manner of Moonis acquittal outrages Supreme Court</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/282139/embezzlement-trial-manner-of-moonis-acquittal-outrages-supreme-court</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/282139/embezzlement-trial-manner-of-moonis-acquittal-outrages-supreme-court#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 26 Oct 11 00:41:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[qaiser.zulfiqar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=282139</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Chief justice questions why case was separated from the main trial.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Acquittal in a Lahore banking court does not appear to be the end of Punjab Assembly member Moonis Elahi’s legal troubles.


The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed outrage at the way the investigation into Elahi’s alleged involvement with the National Insurance Company Ltd (NICL) was handled by the interior ministry and the Federal Investigation Agency.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry questioned the acquittal of Elahi, particularly why the accusations against the Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q) leader were separated from the main NICL embezzlement scandal trial.

“Why was he [Elahi] tried separately? The other accused are still behind bars. Justice should be equal for everyone,” remarked the chief justice.

The court also ordered Interior Secretary Khwaja Siddique Akbar and FIA Director General Tehseen Anwar Shah to respond to allegations by Zafar Qureshi, the former lead investigator in the case, that they had deliberately created hurdles in the investigation.

Qureshi retired on September 30, without being able to complete his probe. Yet, he continued to testify regarding the case, alleging, for instance, that bank accounts of Moonis Elahi that were frozen during the investigation were somehow unfrozen and the money in them released to Elahi.

Qureshi named Waqar Haider, a director at the FIA, and Zulfiqar Ali, a legal officer at the agency, as being responsible for allowing Elahi to move his money out of his accounts before the probe ended.

In addition to providing details of Elahi’s assets abroad, Qureshi also alleged that Habibullah Warraich, a former cabinet minister who is one of the accused in the case, was allowed to board a flight at Karachi Airport and leave the country.

This information visibly upset the chief justice, who then asked where the absconders in the case were. FIA Legal Director Azam Khan replied that they were in the United Kingdom. Khan also admitted that about Rs420 million of the embezzled amount had yet to be recovered from the accused.

“What is going on, Mr Attorney General,” he asked angrily of Maulvi Anwarul Haq, who was representing the federation in the case.

Since Qureshi’s retirement, the investigation has been taken over by Waqar Haider, a director at the FIA’s Lahore office, who is working with the team that Qureshi had initially assembled to probe the case.

The court issued notices to Haider and Azam Khan, in addition to the attorney general, the interior secretary, and the FIA director general to appear before the court on November 2 to explain why their orders regarding the NICL scam’s investigation were not being implemented.

(Read: Search for justice)

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2011. ]]>
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				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/282139-MoonisElahiPHOTOINP-1319588932/282139-MoonisElahiPHOTOINP-1319588932.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
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			<title>Warning to FIA: CJ threatens to transfer NICL case to NAB</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/281527/apex-court-resumes-nicl-case-hearing</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/281527/apex-court-resumes-nicl-case-hearing#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 11 09:00:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[faisal.shakeel]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=281527</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Zafar Qureshi tells court that DG FIA and interior secretary created hurdles during investigation.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry said on Tuesday that the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) investigation could be transferred to the National Accountability Bureau if the Federal Investigation Agency failed to conduct a fair investigation.

The chief justice made these remarks during the hearing of the NICL scam case in the Supreme Court. A three-judge bench comprising chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez heard the case in court today.

Former additional director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Zafar Qureshi told the Supreme Court that Moonis Elahi was acquitted by a Lahore court before the investigation of the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) case could be concluded.

Qureshi made these remarks in the apex court during the hearing of the multi-billion rupee scam involving Moonis Elahi, the main accused who was acquitted by a banking court earlier this week.

According to Qureshi, Moonis Elahi’s assets worth Rs22.5 million were seized by his investigation team, and that Elahi was acquitted "even before a regular trial".

Qureshi said he had unearthed financial irregularities in the scandal and had linked them to Moonis Elahi. He added that his investigation could not be completed because of the lax attitude of the director general of the FIA. Qureshi said his investigation could not be completed due to this non-cooperation and also said that he retired on September 30.

Qureshi said he was in the process of preparing a final challan against Elahi when he was acquitted.

He said the Lahore FIA chief Waqar Haider and assistant director Zulfiqar came up with fictitious letters which they sent to the bank. In accordance with these letters, the bank released the money that was retrieved during the probe back to Elahi.

Qureshi also told the court that he has written at least 10 letters to the FIA chief and interior secretary apprising them of the conduct of Waqar and Zulfiqar, but no action was taken against them.

He also said that he had given proof of money laundering to the DG FIA but was told that the agency did not have the jurisdiction to bring the money back .

After hearing Qureshi’s statements, the chief justice said that if the FIA does not deliver with regard to the investigation, the court can assign the probe to the National Accountability Bureau.

He also summoned Zulfiqar and Waqar on November 2 so they can explain why they failed to cooperate with Qureshi.

The court adjourned the hearing of the case till November 2.

Last week, a banking court acquitted the main accused in the case, Moonis Elahi.]]>
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				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/281527-cjiftikharchaudhryEPA-1319535874/281527-cjiftikharchaudhryEPA-1319535874.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
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			<title>‘Lack of evidence’: Banking court acquits Moonis Elahi in NICL scam</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/278863/nicl-case-court-acquits-moonis-elahi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/278863/nicl-case-court-acquits-moonis-elahi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 22 Oct 11 04:55:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[asad.kharal]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=278863</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Supreme Court sets October 25 as date for hearing the case.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The main accused in the multi-billion rupee National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam, Moonis Elahi, was acquitted by a special banking court on Friday, citing lack of “cogent and overwhelming” evidence.

A Punjab Assembly lawmaker belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), and son of former chief minister Pervaiz Elahi, Moonis had been accused of using political influence to force the state-owned NICL to buy land at highly inflated values. He claimed, however, that the case against him was a conspiracy to malign his family.

Earlier, Moonis had submitted an application for his acquittal before the court. The judge had reserved the verdict on October 15, and announced it on Friday.

“The application in hand is accepted and accused Moonis Elahi is acquitted,” the court’s order read. The order added that Moonis “be release forthwith if [he] is not required in another case.”

In its 11-page order, the judge held that the accused was not nominated in the first information report and the only evidence available against him were the confessional statements of Abdul Malik, manager of At-Tahur (Pvt) Ltd., and Khalil Ahmad, a banker.

Mere confession of an accused cannot be used against his co-accused for passing a conviction, unless it is corroborated with independent evidence, the court’s order read.

The court added that all bank officers had turned “hostile witnesses” and did not “utter a single word against Moonis” in their statements.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had alleged that an amount of Rs10 million was transferred from the account of Mohsin Habib Warraich, an accused in the NICL land scam, to the account of Khadim Traders on April 30, 2010. Muhammad Malik, manager of At-Tahur, a company owned by Moonis, withdrew that amount and handed it over to Moonis, the FIA added. The court said there was no direct or indirect evidence that the amount credited into the account of Khadim traders was ever given to Moonis.

The court also turned down additional director-general (DG) FIA Zafar Ahmad Qureshi’s plea that Moonis had gone abroad on several occasions with Warriach.

Qureshi had said that Warraich’s brother-in-law, Jabran Khan, and Moonis were director and chairman of Agro Tractors respectively, and that fact was sufficient to establish Moonis’ involvement in the NICL scam.

The court said that the prosecution has to establish the charges with “cogent and overwhelming evidence,” and convictions cannot be based on “mere presumptions.”

Regarding allegations of money laundering, the court observed that some attempts have been made by the FIA to establish that roughly Rs90 million have been credited in Moonis’ wife’s bank account and the amount was ultimately transferred into Mooniss account.

However, the court said, the issue of money laundering is beyond its jurisdiction and the FIA might proceed in the matter independently before the competent forum under anti-money laundering laws.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has fixed October 25 for the hearing of the NICL case by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. The apex court issued notices to the attorney-deneral, DG FIA and Qureshi in this regard, along with other relevant officials.

&nbsp;

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2011.]]>
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				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/278863-Moonisphotoexpress-1319259337/278863-Moonisphotoexpress-1319259337.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
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			<title>NICL scam: Court reserves verdict on Elahi’s acquittal plea</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/274652/nicl-scam-court-reserves-verdict-on-moonis-elahi-acquittal-plea</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/274652/nicl-scam-court-reserves-verdict-on-moonis-elahi-acquittal-plea#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 16 Oct 11 05:55:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Rana Yasif]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=274652</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Moonis’ counsel asks for his client’s release since the FIR lodged did not mention him.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Lahore sessions court has reserved its verdict on the acquittal plea of Moonis Elahi in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam case till October 21.

After a conclusion of arguments by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), District &amp; Session Judge Mujahid Mustaqeem Ahmed on Saturday reserved his decision on the acquittal application of accused Elahi.

During the proceedings, FIA prosecutor Choudhary Muhammad Aslam told the court that during investigations it transpired that an amount of Rs220 million was transferred into one Adil Trader’s account from Mohsin Warraich’s account.

Although, the account was under Adil Manzoor’s name, he denied opening any such account. However, Aslam maintained that bank manager Rizwan had said that the account, in which the money was transferred, was, in fact, in Adil’s name.

On the other hand, Elahi’s counsel Advocate Amjad Pervez contended that his client had nothing to do with the scam. He added that even if the case record submitted before the court by the FIA, as well as all the statements of witnesses, were considered correct, a case would still not be established against Moonis.

He told the court that there is not even a single statement of witnesses on record which proved any involvement of Elahi in the scam. “There is no statement which proves any links of Moonis Elahi in the shape of operating the account or opening the account,” he said.

He added that neither was his client a beneficiary of the amount nor was he involved in the scam.

Pervez further argued that an FIR lodged by the FIA in the NICL case did not mention Moonis Elahi and that all prosecution witnesses presented by the FIA had also categorically denied giving any statement against his client. He, therefore, requested the court to acquit his client on these grounds.

However, according to the FIA, Moonis had opened bogus accounts in the name of his manager and his wife to go through with the corruption in NICL.

Later, the FIA lodged two FIRs against Elahi, alleging that his manager Muhammad Malik opened forged accounts in the Allied Bank Limited New Airport branch and the Dubai Islamic Bank Main Boulevard branch.

Mohsin Warriach deposited Rs320 million in total – Rs220 million in first account and Rs100 million in the second.

The first FIR was registered on December 27, 2010, while the second was lodged on January 27, 2011.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16th, 2011.]]>
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			</item><item>
			<title>Money scandal: Last hurrah for NICL probe chief</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/264518/money-scandal-last-hurrah-for-nicl-probe-chief</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/264518/money-scandal-last-hurrah-for-nicl-probe-chief#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 01 Oct 11 05:58:14 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[asad.kharal]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=264518</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Despite hurdles, Qureshi submits last interim report to SC.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Zafar Qureshi, the chief investigator of the multi-billion rupee National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scandal, retired on Friday after submitting the last fortnightly interim progress report on the case. Sources told The Express Tribune that the report had been filed before the scheduled date of October 6, 2011.

The report was due to be presented in the chamber of Supreme Court Judge Justice Amir Hani Muslim, overseen by a three-member bench of the SC. However, due to Qureshi’s retirement from his posts of Additional Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Managing Director National Police Foundation, he filed prior to the deadline.

The 100-page interim report makes the following claims regarding Moonis Elahi, son of former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, and accused of opening bogus bank accounts in the name of his wife and manager Muhammad Malik. Firstly, that Elahi was registered in 2007 by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) as a taxpayer. In 2008 he filed the return papers as he has been drawing a salary of Rs2.4 million annually from At –Tahur Company Limited. His annual income from agriculture was shown as half a million rupees in his papers. Interestingly, in 2009 Qureshi in his investigation found that Elahi’s assets suddenly exceeded Rs640 million. Elahi subsequently showed Rs340 million cash in hand.

During investigation, Malik, the manager of Moonis Elahi’s firm, emerged as the central figure in the dubious transaction involving transfer of Rs320 million from the bank account of Mohsin Habib Warraich (son of former state minister for defence production Major (retd) Habibullah Warraich) to Elahi’s account. Warraichs are the principal accused in the NICL fraud.

Malik played a pivotal role in opening of fake bank accounts on the basis of Computerized National Identity Cards (CNIC) of two presumed sponsors of phony firms (Adil Traders and Khadim Traders) in ABL Airport and Multan Road branches, respectively.

Subsequently he withdrew the entire amount of Rs320 million received as Moonis Elahi’s share in the deal, the report said.

Malik also played a role in depositing the same cash in the accounts of Moonis Elahi, his wife and companies owned by Elahi.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st,  2011.]]>
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			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/264518-ZafarQureshi-1317447989/264518-ZafarQureshi-1317447989.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
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			</item><item>
			<title>NICL land scam: Three magistrates to be prosecution witnesses</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/254397/nicl-scam-fia-given-15-day-extension-to-present-final-challan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/254397/nicl-scam-fia-given-15-day-extension-to-present-final-challan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 18 Sep 11 05:20:51 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Rana Yasif]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=254397</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[FIA declares Moonis Elahi guilty of accepting commission.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has once again implicated PML-Q MPA Moonis Elahi in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) land scam. In a rare development, three magistrates have been named as prosecution witnesses.


On Saturday, the FIA’s legal wing submitted the revised interim charge sheet, prepared under the supervision of Additional Director FIA Zafar Qureshi, before the court of Sessions Judge Mujhaid Mustaqeem Ahmed.

The magistrates, who have been nominated in the charge sheet, had recorded the statements of prosecution witnesses and determined bail applications. Shah has also been added as a prosecution witnesses. Qureshi has replaced FIA Inspector Muhammad Sarwer as investigation officer for the cases against Elahi. FIA officials requested the court to grant an extension for the submission of the final charge sheet.

Elahi’s counsel, Amjad Pervez, accused the FIA of wasting the court’s time and violating its orders. “The FIA is deliberately obstructing the course of justice to prolong Elahi’s incarceration,” he said.

Pervez claimed the FIA had delayed the submission of the charge sheet since August 18 and that Qureshi’s request for an additional month for further investigation had expired on September 6.

Pervez contended that even after being given a two-week grace period, the FIA had neither appointed a prosecutor nor completed the investigation.

He said Qureshi’s request for a third extension was illegal since two charge sheets could not be presented in the same case. He asked the court to order Qureshi to answer why the FIA had failed to appoint a prosecutor and present the final charge sheet.

He also demanded to know who had appeared before the court in the prosecutor’s absence. However, the judge ordered the FIA to present the final charge sheet and the new prosecutor by September 26 at the latest, failing which the court may summon Qureshi.

Qureshi had earlier informed the court that the charge sheet submitted against Elahi was tampered in his absence.

According to the FIA, Elahi had opened fake bank accounts in the names of his manager and wife to get his share of the commission in two land deals between NICL and Mohsin Warraich, son of former federal cabinet minister Habibullah Warraich.

 

 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2011.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/254397-NICLlogo-1316323239/254397-NICLlogo-1316323239.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>NICL land scam: Officials of seven banks summoned</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/251272/nicl-land-scam-officials-of-seven-banks-summoned</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/251272/nicl-land-scam-officials-of-seven-banks-summoned#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Sep 11 04:57:35 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[asad.kharal]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=251272</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[FIA files petition for cancelling bail of Maj (retd) Habibullah Warraich.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A special court has summoned officials of seven bank officers who had de-frozen accounts of two firms – At-Tahur and Agro Tractors – owned by Chaudhry Moonis Elahi on the request of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), an accused in the multi-billion-rupee National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) land scam.

The special judge (central) ordered Maj (retd) Habibullah Warraich, his wife and two daughters and Akram Warraich to appear before the court on September 17.

Meanwhile, the federal agency also filed two separate petitions for cancelling the bails of former state minister of defence production Major (retd) Habibullah Warraich and the director of the Privilege Farms (Pvt) Limited, Akram Warraich, for violating an undertaking  for depositing their liability amounting to Rs420 million, and transferring the land in question, measuring 803 kanals and 19 marlas.

Qureshi had requested the court to summon the officials of seven banks who played a vital role in de-freezing the accounts of the two companies reportedly owned by Chaudhry Moonis Elahi. An amount of Rs12 million by the holders of these accounts was reported to have been withdrawn, sources familiar with the matter said.

A meeting has been called and officials, including the deputy director FIA, corporate crime circle, Syed Javed Hussain Shah, deputy director, commercial banking circle, Basharat Mehmood Shahzad have been asked to attend the meeting with relevant record, sources said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13th,  2011.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/251272-MooniselahiPhotoPPI-1315889759/251272-MooniselahiPhotoPPI-1315889759.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>NICL scam: ‘DG FIA avoiding meetings led by Zafar Qureshi’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/246368/nicl-scam-court-gives-extension-to-fia-for-prosecutors-appointment</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/246368/nicl-scam-court-gives-extension-to-fia-for-prosecutors-appointment#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 07 Sep 11 05:45:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rana.tanveer]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=246368</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Sessions court gives FIA till Sep 17 to appoint a prosecutor.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Director-General (DG) of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Syed Tahsin Anwar Ali Shah has been ‘deliberately’ avoiding participating in meetings chaired by additional DG FIA Zafar Qureshi in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam, sources familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune.


The director general’s resignation is believed to be the reason for his ‘disappearing act’, even though he continues to enjoy the perks and privileges granted to his office.  Shah also visited the FIA headquarters in Islamabad on Monday and Tuesday, after office hours, and is believed to have met the interior secretary and prime minister, sources told The Express Tribune.

According to Supreme Court orders, Shah was bound to attend “meetings as a team member of the investigation if he had signed any documents as DG FIA,” sources further revealed.

On August 17, Shah tendered his resignation in the Supreme Court during the hearing of the NICL scam case. Shah believed he was superseded by Qureshi in the investigation, citing it as the reason for his resignation.

Meanwhile, Lahore District and Sessions Judge Mujahid Mustaqeem made it mandatory on FIA authorities to appoint a prosecutor on the application filed by main accused Moonis Elahi for his acquittal in the NICL scam by September 17.

Earlier, FIA authorities moved an application seeking adjournment in hearing of the NICL scam to ensure the appointment of a new prosecutor to contest the case.

While opposing the application, Elahi’s counsels, Rai Bashir Ahmad and Malik Amjad Pervaiz, argued that FIA was not only wasting the court’s time but was also creating hurdles in the proceedings by filing baseless applications.

The counsels further added that earlier the FIA sought adjournment of hearing on the completion of the investigation and had now filed a new application seeking adjournment for the appointment of a new prosecutor. The counsels believed the application was in contempt of court as it had already given time to the FIA for the completion of investigations.

Elahi, his manager Muhammad Maalik, bank officials Rizwan Bhatti and Muhammad Khalil are involved in the misappropriation of Rs220 million while facilitating one of the land deals of the NICL scam.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7th,  2011.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/246368-judgesgavel-1315302281/246368-judgesgavel-1315302281.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>NICL scam: FIA traces Rs320m deposits in Elahi's accounts</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/238503/nicl-scam-fia-traces-rs320m-deposits-in-elahis-accounts</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/238503/nicl-scam-fia-traces-rs320m-deposits-in-elahis-accounts#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Aug 11 13:38:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=238503</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rs320 million were deposited in various bank accounts of Moonis Elahi and his wife.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) completed its investigation into the Rs320 million deposited in the bank accounts of Moonis Elahi, the main accused in the multi-billion rupee National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam case.

The investigation agency submitted its report to the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Sources said that Rs320 million were deposited in various bank accounts of Elahi during the NICL’s purchase of land.

Out of this amount, Rs160 million were deposited in the account of his wife, Tehreem Elahi, at Allied Bank Limited’s Liberty Market branch, while Rs110 million were deposited in an account at EFG Bank in England.

The remaining Rs50 million were deposited in the account of the owner of Al-Tahur Company at ABL’s Liberty Market branch.

This amount was first transferred to Meezan Bank Gulberg, then to Al-Baraka Bank Gulberg and finally to the account of Agro Tractor Company, which is owned by Moonis Elahi.

Earlier, four witnesses recorded their statements in the case at the ADG’s camp office at the FIA Punjab office, while the FIA headquarters in Islamabad and the FIA Punjab chapter were directed by the Senate Secretariat for a meeting scheduled to be held on August 25 at 11:00 am.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/238503-mooniselahi-1314192563/238503-mooniselahi-1314192563.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Senate panel: Progress report sought on NICL scam probe</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/238078/senate-panel-progress-report-sought-on-nicl-scam-probe</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/238078/senate-panel-progress-report-sought-on-nicl-scam-probe#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Aug 11 05:19:59 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[asad.kharal]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=238078</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[New evidence has the potential to bring to the surface many hidden aspects of the NICL case.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been directed to submit the progress report regarding the multi-billion-rupee National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam to the Senate standing committee on commerce, The Express Tribune has learnt.


The FIA headquarters in Islamabad and the FIA Punjab chapter have received letters from the Senate Secretariat for a meeting scheduled to be held on August 25 at 11:00 am, sources revealed.

Additional director general (ADG) FIA and chief investigator of the NICL investigation team, Zafar Qureshi, convened a meeting on Tuesday of the NICL investigation team at the ADG’s camp office at the FIA Punjab office, Lahore, where four witnesses gave their statements.

The witnesses have been told to appear again on Wednesday (today) for further queries.

Alleged main accused in the scam, Akram Warraich, director Privilege Farms (Pvt) Limited company, has also been directed to appear before the investigators.

The FIA has also started preparing drafts and will soon file a petition before the Special Judge Central (Anti Corruption) Court regarding the cancellation of post-arrest bail of accused Warraich, uncle of principal accused Mohsin Habib Warraich, son of Major (retd) Habibullah Warraich, former minister for defence production.

According to sources, the accused had given an undertaking that they would transfer the land in question, measuring 100 acres, in the name of NICL within a span of six weeks. The accused also submitted post-dated cheques worth Rs420 million but after Qureshi’s removal, the accused did not transfer the land to the NICL, despite a lapse of four months.

While going through the NICL investigation case files, Qureshi learnt that some important pieces of evidence had not been included in the challan.

Sources said that several new pieces of evidence will now be included in the challan which will then be submitted before the District and Sessions Judge. The new evidence has the potential to bring to the surface many hidden aspects of the NICL case, sources claimed.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24th,  2011.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/238078-folder-1314163144/238078-folder-1314163144.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>NICL scam: Petitions of two accused dismissed</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/237474/nicl-scam-petitions-of-two-accused-dismissed</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/237474/nicl-scam-petitions-of-two-accused-dismissed#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Aug 11 05:43:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=237474</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Court refuses contempt of court plea against Zafar Qureshi.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[District and Sessions Judge Mujahid Mustaqeem Ahmed dismissed on Monday bail petitions of two of the accused involved in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam.


Rizwan Ali Bhatti and Khalil Ahmed, branch managers of Allied Bank Limited, had filed post-arrest bails contending that they were not beneficiaries of the scam.

The judge also dismissed a contempt of court petition against Additional Director-General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Zafar Qureshi for intervening in court proceedings.

On Monday, the counsel of the accused took the stand that no incriminating evidence has been collected by the investigating officer of the case to establish mens rea (intent) or actus reus (action) against the petitioners. He contended that the court had registered the case without initiating an inquiry.

A petition of contempt of court was also filed against Qureshi for intervening in court matters by sending a letter during case proceedings.

The judge reserved the decision at first and then dismissed both the bail petitions as well as the contempt of court petition.

Meanwhile a judicial commission, constituted to determine political interference in the investigation of the NICL scam, recorded journalists’ statements who had reported Zafar Qureshi’s suspension after the Supreme Court reinstated him.

Two journalists working for English dailies submitted affidavits to commission chief Justice Ghulam Rabbani in his chamber. They stated that they stand by their stories and assured the commission of their full cooperation in the future.

(with additional reporting by  our correspondent in islamabad)

 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23rd, 2011.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/237474-NICLlogo-1314077996/237474-NICLlogo-1314077996.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>NICL case: Qureshi to submit report to Supreme Court today</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/236687/nicl-case-qureshi-to-submit-report-to-supreme-court-today</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/236687/nicl-case-qureshi-to-submit-report-to-supreme-court-today#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Aug 11 05:16:00 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[asad.kharal]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=236687</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Four reporters have been summoned to testify as well.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[In his first report filed to the Supreme Court since his reinstatement, Zafar Qureshi, the lead investigator into the embezzlement scandal at the state-owned National Insurance Company Ltd (NICL), on Monday (today) is expected to detail the manner in which the government allegedly created hindrances in his probe.

The Supreme Court required Qureshi, an additional director-general at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), to submit fortnightly reports on the progress of his investigation that has thus far implicated several prominent politicians affiliated with the ruling coalition.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Qureshi is expected to state that his investigation has made no progress since he was removed from his post at the FIA, as well as the probe, on April 18. He is expected to offer details on the summons he has issued since resuming charge of the investigation under the court’s orders.

Meanwhile, a judicial commission appointed by the Supreme Court has also summoned four reporters of three English newspapers to offer their testimony on the alleged smear campaign against the judiciary and the investigation into NICL scam.

Over the past several months, advertisements had begun appearing in various media outlets proclaiming the innocence of Moonis Elahi, a prominent leader of the Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q) and one of the principal accused in the case. The ads also implied a hostile political agenda on the part of the judiciary and Qureshi.

On August 18, Justice Ghulam Rabbani was appointed to investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, Qureshi is also expected to detail the actions he took after prosecutors in the case behaved inappropriately.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd,  2011.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/236687-zafarqureshi-1313990123/236687-zafarqureshi-1313990123.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Post-arrest bail hearing: Judge annoyed over FIA letter</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/235566/post-arrest-bail-hearing-judge-annoyed-over-fia-letter</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/235566/post-arrest-bail-hearing-judge-annoyed-over-fia-letter#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 20 Aug 11 05:14:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Rana Yasif]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=235566</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Judge warned staffers not to accept any letter or application if it was not submitted by an authorised official.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A sessions judge expressed annoyance on Friday over a letter handed over to a court staffer by the personal assistant of Additional Director-General (ADG) Zafar Ahmed Qureshi, seeking a month-long adjournment of post-arrest bails of two accused allegedly involved in the NICL scam.


District and Session Judge Mujahid Mustaqeem Ahmed snubbed court staffers, warning them not to receive any letter or application in this regard by the FIA ADG’s office.

The judge cautioned that movement of all relevant documents should follow high court rules and orders and an authorised officer of FIA should file necessary documents in open court, adding that no document should be entertained if sent by any other means, including ordinary post or fax.

The application, which also called for appointing an independent lawyer as a special public prosecutor in the NICL, was sent by the ADG’s office on Thursday a day before the post-arrest bail hearing of two accused Khalil Ahmed and Rizwan Ali Bhatti.

It is learnt that the application was handed over to a court staffer by a man named Akram, who introduced himself as the PA to the ADG FIA, on Thursday evening.

When the letter was submitted to the judge on Friday, he called up the staffer who had received the letter and warned him and other court staffers not to accept any letter or application if it was not submitted by an authorised official.

The accused, whose bail application was to be heard on Friday, reacted sharply when he was informed about the letter. He said that it was just a ruse to linger on the matter.

The counsel for the accused requested the court to take stern action on such unauthorised communication.

The judge said that the FIA should be given one more chance more, adding that he was not granting any unnecessary adjournment.

No one appeared on behalf of the FIA in the bail proceedings.

The judge then fixed August 22 as the next date of hearing.

 

 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20th, 2011.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/235566-zafarqureshi-1313817255/235566-zafarqureshi-1313817255.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>NICL scam: FIA summons six more accused in scandal</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/235656/nicl-scam-fia-summons-six-more-accused-in-scandal</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/235656/nicl-scam-fia-summons-six-more-accused-in-scandal#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 20 Aug 11 04:45:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[asad.kharal]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=235656</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Babar Awan on behalf of key accused Moonis Elahi calls for removal of Qureshi as lead investigator in the NICL case.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[As more evidence begins to surface in the multi-billion rupee National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) land scandal, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team has summoned six accused in the case, sources familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune.


The team led by Additional Director-General (DG) Zafar Ahmed Qureshi took the decision at a meeting convened in Lahore on Friday. Qureshi is said to have assigned additional tasks to the NICL investigation team.

Meanwhile, police have been investigating a criminal case filed against Assistant Director (AD) FIA Security Wing Khawaja Hamadur Rehman on charges of spreading baseless information to government officials and interfering in government matters.

The NICL land scam has been a contentious issue between the government and judiciary. Babar Awan – former law minister and a key member of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party – filed a petition on behalf of key accused Moonis Elahi, calling for removal of Qureshi as the lead investigator in the NICL case.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20th, 2011.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/235656-zafarqureshi-1313815361/235656-zafarqureshi-1313815361.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>NICL embezzlement case: Another FIA head exits over corruption probe</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/233402/nicl-scam-dg-fia-tahsin-shah-tenders-resignation-in-court</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/233402/nicl-scam-dg-fia-tahsin-shah-tenders-resignation-in-court#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Aug 11 07:03:59 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[qaiser.zulfiqar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=233402</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Shah claims he was superseded by Additional DG Zafar Qureshi in the NICL land scam investigation.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The National Insurance Company’s (NICL) financial fraud case, a thorn between state institutions, led to the resignation of yet another Federal Investigation Agency director-general.

Tahseen Anwar Shah - the third DG FIA to exit this year - tendered his resignation during Supreme Court’s hearing on the NICL scam case on Wednesday. The court, however, said that the resignation should be sent to the authorities concerned. Soon after, Shah sent his resignation to the Ministry of Interior.

Shah said he was resigning because on Tuesday the Supreme Court had directed the director-general to assist the lead investigator in the scandal, Additional Director Zafar Qureshi. Shah said he could not work as a subordinate to a junior officer.

(Read: SC cancels leaves of FIA investigators)

In response, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said it was his professional obligation to help in investigations and that if he wants to resign he should send his resignation to officials concerned.

“Until the court order stays, I am not going to work” Anwar Shah told The Express Tribune. He added that it was both “illogical and unacceptable” for him to work under the supervision of a junior officer.

Besides the chief justice, the three-member bench in the suo motu case comprises Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Ghulam Rabbani.

In pursuance of the court’s previous order, Shah presented all files before the court and handed them over to Qureshi. He said that a case has been registered against persons who spread rumours about a bomb in FIA’s Lahore office. The DG FIA, however, said he did not know who locked the building.

(Read: Bomb hoax keeps Zafar Qureshi from resuming probe)

Khawaja Hammad, assistant director of FIA Lahore said that on the directives of Waqar Haider, the director of the Agency’s Lahore chapter, the building was locked, preventing Qureshi from entering his office. Hammad said he was pressured by higher authorities to do so. Hammad was directed to submit his written statement, while Haider was told to file a reply on Hammad’s accusation.

Denying Hammad’s claims, the FIA’s Lahore director said he was in Islamabad on August 13, and the assistant director was accusing him to save himself.

The Supreme Court’s order was violated by locking the FIA building, the chief justice said. Babar Awan informed the court that he was representing Moonis Elahi and requested the court to sideline Qureshi from NICL investigations. “I have faith in all team members except Zafar Qureshi,” he said.

If anyone thinks that Qureshi will retire next month and investigations will be stopped, they are mistaken, the chief justice said, adding that he will continue to work on investigations even after retirement.

Meanwhile, the court directed the DG FIA to conduct an inquiry into the bomb hoax and extend maximum cooperation to Zafar Qurashi. The hearing was adjourned for an indefinite period.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>NICL scam: SC cancels leaves of FIA investigators</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/232624/sc-summons-nicl-investigation-team-cancels-their-leave</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/232624/sc-summons-nicl-investigation-team-cancels-their-leave#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Aug 11 09:33:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[qaiser.zulfiqar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=232624</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Chief justice directs that DG FIA be included in the team.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court has ordered cancellation of leaves of members of the team investigating the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam spearheaded by Additional Director General (ADG) Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Zafar Qureshi and summoned them along with the record on Wednesday.

The lead investigator of the NICL scam submitted that four officers assisting him in the investigation had been sent on leave before a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

“When I tried to contact the Interpol director FIA, I found that he too was on leave.” He submitted that Assistant Director FIA Khwaja Hammad called him on August 12 to warn him of a possible bomb threat. The next day he was barred from entering the FIA  building. The bomb threat later turned out to be a hoax.

(Read: Bomb hoax keeps Zafar Qureshi from resuming probe)

Witnesses he had called for cross-examination did not turn up either. Qureshi informed the bench that he wrote letters to the interior ministry for assistance but there was no response. It is regrettable that Qureshi was mistreated despite his reinstatement as the investigation officer of the NICL scam, the CJ remarked. “Enough is enough!” he observed and asked for Attorney General (AGP) Maulvi Anwarul Haq’s advice on the issue. He questioned the AGP why the government was hindering implementation of court orders, who remained silent as is his wont.

The CJ asked Director General (DG) FIA Tehseen Anwar Shah about the bomb hoax in Lahore but he invited the court’s ire by expressing ignorance about the incident. He ordered DG FIA to take action against officials responsible for stopping Qureshi from entering the premises.

He observed that the DG should have registered a case against the hoax callers. The CJ directed DG FIA to join the team probing the NICL scam. “The government should facilitate the investigation instead of backing the criminals.” The CJ observed that DG FIA and director and assistant director FIA Lahore had disobeyed court orders.  Earlier Qureshi had informed the court that he had resumed charge as ADG FIA and Managing Director NPF in compliance with the Supreme Court’s reserved order. The court adjourned the hearing for Wednesday.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>NICL scam: As Qureshi resumes probe, FIA officials ‘misplace’ files</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/232366/nicl-scam-as-qureshi-resumes-probe-fia-officials-%e2%80%98misplace%e2%80%99-files</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/232366/nicl-scam-as-qureshi-resumes-probe-fia-officials-%e2%80%98misplace%e2%80%99-files#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Aug 11 05:44:17 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[asad.kharal]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=232366</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Sources say govt decided not to allow meetings of investigation team or access to case files till Elahi’s acquittal.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Recently restored Additional Director General FIA Zafar Qureshi resumed the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam probe on Monday amid ‘pre-planned’ obstacles.


In an attempt to facilitate Moonis Elahi, an accused in the multi-billion rupee NICL scam, prosecutors of the FIA failed to cooperate in the investigation process, well placed sources in the interior ministry said. Senior FIA officials also claimed to have ‘misplaced’ record files of the scam.

According to sources, Qureshi wrote to the Supreme Court (SC), secretary interior, DG FIA and Director FIA Lahore asking how he could conduct a transparent investigation when relevant records and investigation team members were unavailable.

Qureshi also asked for the leaves of the investigation team to be cancelled and to make it mandatory for FIA prosecutors to take part in the investigation process.

Following a threat of an implication of Elahi in yet another case related to NICL scam, the government is trying to find ways to delay or halt the case, sources revealed.

Elahi’s acquittal was made possible after many witnesses backed out from their initial statements and Qureshi was removed from his post, they added, saying the government fears that if Qureshi is allowed to take charge of the case or given access to case files before August 16, he might foil Elahi’s planned acquittal. The sources added that the government was planning a strategy to stop or make Qureshi ‘disappear’ from the scene for a few days.

The government might also plan to file a review petition against the SC order regarding Qureshi’s reinstatement.

Sources said that a plan “is being chalked out in which FIA junior officers may attack Qureshi, humiliating him”.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Building evacuation: Bomb hoax keeps Zafar Qureshi from resuming probe</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/230593/bomb-hoax-zafar-qureshi-not-allowed-to-enter-fia-office</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/230593/bomb-hoax-zafar-qureshi-not-allowed-to-enter-fia-office#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 14 Aug 11 04:00:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[asad.kharal]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=230593</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[NICL scam investigating officer finds office locked following hoax call. Building cleared by Bomb Disposal Squad.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A bomb hoax call on Saturday kept recently restored Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Additional Director General Zafar Qureshi from entering his office at the FIA’s provincial headquarters in Lahore.


Qureshi, who is also the lead investigator of the multi-billion-rupee National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam, had called a meeting of the investigation team on Saturday at the FIA office in Lahore.

When he arrived around 12:15 pm, Qureshi found the door locked.

Sources said the hoax call might have been an attempt to disrupt Qureshi’s meeting.

A phone call made to Assistant Director FIA Security Wing Khawaja Hammadur Rehman’s cell phone at 10:07 am from an unidentified number warned him of a bomb planted inside the FIA building, sources told The Express Tribune. The call lasted approximately six to seven seconds, and the caller hung up say: “Whoever wants to save their lives must leave the building immediately.”

The Police Emergency Control and the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) were alerted immediately after the call was received, FIA officials said. Station House Officer (SHO) of the Civil Lines Police Station and the BDS arrived at the scene at around 10:25 am. SHO Civil Lines police station Inspector Abid Rasheed said that the message was conveyed to him at 10:19 am.

Soon after the threat, Rangers and police personnel, including the FIA’s security wing were put on high alert, and no one was allowed to enter the FIA office.

The entire building was evacuated immediately after the threatening phone call, and no members of the media were allowed to enter the premises.

The FIA, Punjab’s office has been attacked twice before. An explosive-laden car had hit the building, killing 26 people on March 11, 2008. Thirteen of those killed were FIA officials.

The same office was attacked again by a suicide bomber on October 15, 2009 who managed to kill six people just outside the premises.

Following the incident, Qureshi rescheduled the meeting on Monday, sources revealed.

FIA’s Punjab Director Waqar Haider left for Islamabad on Saturday morning to meet Interior Minister Rehman Malik regarding the NICL investigation, sources added.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Nicl Scam: Moonis lawyer completes arguments</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/230962/nicl-scam-moonis-lawyer-completes-arguments</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/230962/nicl-scam-moonis-lawyer-completes-arguments#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 14 Aug 11 03:00:51 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=230962</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[NICL scam hearing till August 16 after Moonis Elahi’s counsel completed the arguments for the defence.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[District and Sessions Judge Mujahid Mustaqeem Ahmed on Saturday adjourned the hearing of the National Insurance Corporation Limited (NICL) scam till August 16 after Moonis Elahi’s counsel completed the arguments for the defence. Elahi’s counsel, Amjad Pervaiz Malik, said the prosecution had not produced substantial evidence to prove that his client was guilty. He said the witnesses produced in a banking court against his client had all later retracted their statements and revealed that officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had made them put their thumb prints on blank pieces of paper, and then written their witness statements on their behalf afterwards. He requested the court to declare him innocent because the FIA had failed to prove the charges against him. The counsel will argue against the acquittal plea at the next hearing.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Scandal inquiry: 3 NICL probe team members ‘out of city’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/229814/qureishi-returns-to-the-fia-only-to-find-co-workers-missing</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/229814/qureishi-returns-to-the-fia-only-to-find-co-workers-missing#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 13 Aug 11 05:00:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=229814</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The one who stayed in town said he could not attend the meeting because of a ‘sharp toothache’.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[All but one of the four-member team investigating the multi-billion National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scandal feigned on Friday to be ‘out of city’ ostensibly to avoid a meeting summoned by Zafar Qureshi.


The one who preferred to ‘stay in the city’ told FIA authorities that he had missed the meeting scheduled to be held at 10am because of a sharp toothache.

Qureshi had informed the Director-General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Tahsin Anwar Ali about the meeting on Thursday, who instructed the team members to participate in the meeting with all relevant record.

The message was circulated the same day, but family members of the three missing FIA men told official messengers that they had all gone ‘out of city’. Assistant Director of FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle Khalid Anees was the only one who preferred to stay in town.

Sources privy to the development said that Deputy Director of FIA’s Corporate Crime Circle Syed Javed Hussain Shah’s family had told FIA officials that he was “out of city”, Assistant Director of FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle Muhammad Ahmed Chaudhry’s brother said that he was in Kasur, while the family of Inspector Muhammad Sarwar said that he was in Chunian.

Sources familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune that Mr Qureshi again asked the DG FIA to bind the NICL investigation team to attend another meeting which has now been rescheduled to be held on Saturday (today) at 11am.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Complying with SC orders: Zafar Qureshi assumes office on his own</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/229722/complying-with-sc-orders-zafar-qureshi-assumes-office-on-his-own</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/229722/complying-with-sc-orders-zafar-qureshi-assumes-office-on-his-own#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Aug 11 05:13:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[asad.kharal]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=229722</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Zafar Qureshi assumed charge as managing director of the NPF and Additional Director General FIA.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Owing to the government’s failure in reinstating him and in compliance with Supreme Court orders, Zafar Qureshi has, on his own, assumed charge as managing director of the National Police Foundation (NPF) and Additional Director General FIA. He will also lead the investigation into the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) corruption case.


According to officials, Qureshi had sent two letters to the interior secretary demanding an implementation of the Supreme Court’s order but after receiving no reply he took charge of the posts on Thursday. After taking charge, Qureshi sent another letter to Director General Federal Investigation Agency to make sure all members of the team probing the NICL scam attend a meeting held at NPF office on Friday at 10 am with complete case files.

All five members of the investigation team however have gone on leave – a move, officials say, aimed at disrupting the investigation process in view of Qureshi’s reinstatement as lead investigator.

The five members are Deputy Director FIA Corporate Crime Circle Syed Javed Hussain Shah, Assistant Director FIA Anti Corruption Circle Khalid Anees, Deputy Director FIA Commercial Banking Circle Basharat Mehmood Shahzad, Assistant Director Muhammad Ahmed Chaudhry and Inspector Sarwar.

Shah has gone on a six-day casual leave, Anees has gone on a four-day leave while Shahzad has gone for Umra on a 22-day ex-Pakistan leave, sources said. Shah and Anees were not present in their offices even before they left on leave. Chaudhry and Sarwar too have gone on a ten-day leave, officials said.

Meanwhile, Assistant Director FIA Legal Wing Zia Islam, who has been pursuing the NICL case in court, will be substituted with Assistant Director Chaudhry Zulifqar at the request of Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, officials said.

Following Qureshi’s reappointment on July 1st, 2011 on the Supreme Court’s orders, DG FIA on the same day transferred four officers of the investigation team to the far-flung areas of the country with a pretext to hinder the investigation, officials said.

The Supreme Court however issued a notification cancelling the transfer of the officers but sources say a similar episode is being repeated now as the main reason behind the officers going on leave is to suspend the investigation process.

Meanwhile, DG FIA has issued a notification for the reinstatement of Qureshi as Additional DG FIA only for the purpose of conducting  investigation into the NICL scam, sources said.

(With additional input from our correspondent in Lahore)

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>NICL scam: Despite SC orders, probe chief yet to be reinstated</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/228919/nicl-scam-despite-sc-orders-probe-chief-yet-to-be-reinstated</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/228919/nicl-scam-despite-sc-orders-probe-chief-yet-to-be-reinstated#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 11 Aug 11 05:05:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[asad.kharal]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=228919</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Establishment Division, interior ministry have not been issued notices.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Despite Supreme Court’s orders to reappoint Zafar Qureshi as lead investigator in the multi-billion rupee National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam, neither the Establishment Division nor the interior ministry have issued any notification in this regard, sources familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is also not ready to reinstate Qureshi, despite the passage of three days since the apex court’s verdict, sources said.

The Supreme Court on Monday had ordered Qureshi’s reinstatement as lead investigation officer in NICL cases, declaring illegal the notification suspending Qureshi from his position of additional director-general of the FIA.

The court said that obstructions were being created to hamper the investigation into the NICL scandal for political reasons.

Qureshi, who was investigating the scam involving Moonis Elahi, son of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, was suspended on July 4.

Sources added that Qureshi is due to retire on September 30, 2011 and the government, therefore, is adopting delaying tactics in reinstating him as additional DG FIA.

When Qureshi went to the FIA headquarters in Islamabad on Wednesday, August 10 to submit his rejoining report, no one paid any heed to him resuming his charge, sources added.

DG FIA Syed Tahsin Anwar Ali Shah, when contacted by The Express Tribune, said that Qureshi does not need any notification and the Supreme Court ruling in this regard is sufficient.

Whenever he returns to FIA, he will be welcomed,  said Shah.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Nicl Scam: FIA, Elahi called to court</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/227985/nicl-scam-fia-elahi-called-to-court</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/227985/nicl-scam-fia-elahi-called-to-court#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 10 Aug 11 03:10:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=227985</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The counsel for Elahi, told the court that his client had nothing to do with the NICL scam]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A district and sessions judge on Tuesday,  issuing a notice to the Federal Investigation Agency authorities, adjourned the hearing on the acquittal plea of Moonis Elahi, the main accused in the National Insurance Corporation Ltd (NICL) scam till August 11. The counsel for Elahi, told the court that his client had nothing to do with the NICL scam and all witnesses against him had changed their statements. He asked the court to acquit his client. The court summoned the Federal Investigation Agency officials and Elahi on the next hearing date of hearing, August 11. The court accepted the bail application of two other accused, bank managers, Khalil Ahmad and Rizwan Bhatti, for hearing and issued notices to the authorities concerned.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>NICL scam: Moonis Elahi summoned on August 11</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/227472/nicl-scam-moonis-elahi-summoned-on-august-11</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/227472/nicl-scam-moonis-elahi-summoned-on-august-11#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Aug 11 06:54:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=227472</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Preliminary hearing of Moonis Elahi’s plea for acquittal adjourned. PML-Q leader summoned on August 11.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Lahore Sessions Court has summoned Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) leader Moonis Elahi for the next National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam case hearing on August 11, Express 24/7 reported on Tuesday.

The preliminary hearing of Moonis Elahi’s plea for acquittal began in the court of District and Sessions Judge Mujahid Mustaqeem today.

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry had transferred the case to the district and sessions judge after Malik Abdul Rasheed, the judge of a special court for banking offences, refused to continue hearing the case, following a heated argument with Elahi’s lawyer on July 5.

The PML-Q leader’s lawyers requested the court to acquit him as eight witnesses had already withdrawn their statements.

The court adjourned the hearing and ordered Elahi to appear in the next hearing on August 11.]]>
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			<title>NICL scam: Fired probe chief put back in saddle</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/226618/nicl-scam-sc-reinstates-qureshi-orders-probe-into-govt-interference</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/226618/nicl-scam-sc-reinstates-qureshi-orders-probe-into-govt-interference#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Aug 11 05:21:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[qaiser.zulfiqar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=226618</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[CJP directs Justice Ghulam Rabbani to conduct a probe into allegations of government interference in the case.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[As the government-judiciary tussle seemed to draw to a close, the Supreme Court has again reinstated Zafar Ahmed Qureshi as the lead investigator in the National Insurance Company Limited land scam.


(Read: Unnecessary confrontation)

The outspoken Qureshi, who has been restored to his post as additional director-general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), was suspended on July 4 by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, just days after the SC  ordered his reinstatement.

In a detailed 37-page judgment, the court has ordered that Qureshi resume investigation from where he had left off and complete the probe at the earliest. The team, which had been assisting him in the investigation, will join him unless he wants otherwise.

The court also ordered that no action shall be taken against Qureshi without the SC’s prior approval. The FIA director-general has also been issued a stern warning by the court against any interference in the probe being conducted by Qureshi.  On Monday, senior judge Justice Shakirullah Jan read out the verdict in the absence of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry who is in Lahore for another hearing.

Quashing Qureshi’s suspension notification of 4.7.2011 and all other relevant orders, the court tasked Justice Ghulam Rabbani to find out the reasons that led to Qureshi’s suspension despite the court’s 1.7.2011 order to reinstate him. The court also declared that Qureshi is deemed to have been on duty as an official of the FIA following the court’s July 1 order.

The court said that Attorney-General Maulvi Anwarul Haq had failed to submit the prime minister’s stand on the issue and ordered Haq to submit a written statement regarding the positions of the prime minister and the interior minister.

The court also ordered the formation of a commission, headed by Justice Ghulam Rabbani, which will ascertain who is responsible for Qureshi’s suspension and an “anti-judiciary campaign” in the electronic media and present its report to the SC. The court’s deputy registrar Sajid Mehmood will be the commission’s secretary and will be assisted by the interior and information secretaries.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>SC to announce NICL verdict on Monday</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/225935/sc-to-announce-nicl-verdict-on-monday</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/225935/sc-to-announce-nicl-verdict-on-monday#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 07 Aug 11 05:06:25 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[A three-member bench of the apex court reserved its judgment on July 25.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court will announce its verdict on the suspension of additional director-general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Zafar Ahmed Qureshi tomorrow (Monday).


Qureshi was tasked to investigate the multi-billion rupee land scam in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) and the case proved to be a major source of friction between the executive and the judiciary. A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, reserved its judgment on the issue on July 25.

Govt’s response not submitted

The court had ordered the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) to submit a written statement regarding the prime minister and the interior minister’s response to Qureshi’s suspension but it was not submitted.

Appearing on court’s notice, AGP Maulvi Anwarul Haq on July 25 had requested the court to grant some more time for submitting the prime minister’s response on why Qureshi was suspended and not reinstated despite the court orders. The court, however, rejected his request, noting that sufficient time had already been granted.

Earlier, the apex court, on July 1, had ordered suspension of the notification of transfer of Qureshi, ordering him to continue investigation into the NICL scam.

The government, on July 5, had suspended Qureshi within 72 hours of his reinstatement for talking to the media without a departmental authorisation.  The government also transferred four investigators associated with the case The Supreme Court, on July 6, took notice of Qureshi’s suspension once again but the government did not restore him.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7th, 2011.]]>
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