NICL scam: Noose tightens around Moonis Elahi

Sources say Elahi is being sent a series of questions on the basis of a written statement of Moonis’ manager.

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency seems to be tightening the noose around Moonis Elahi, the scion of the powerful Chaudhry of Gujrat, and a set of questions has been sent to him to answer over his alleged involvement in the multi-billion-rupee-scam at the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL).

Sources confirmed that Moonis Elahi was being sent a series of questions on the basis of a written statement of Moonis’ manager, who had confessed before an FIA team during investigation that he had opened a fake bank account in which key accused Mohsin Warriach, now absconding in London, had transferred Rs230 million, meant for Moonis Elahi.

Sources have confirmed that this was the first step by the FIA to investigate Moonis Elahi as sending a set questions was usually done in cases of fraud and white collar crimes. However, if his replies to the questions were not found satisfactory, Moonis Elahi could be asked to appear before an FIA investigation team for questioning.

The FIA Lahore had also sent a similar set of questions to Chairman Transparency International, Adil Gilani, when during the investigations his possible role in the multi-billion-rupee-scam was also detected. Adil Gilani had replied to those questions and was sent another set of questions after FIA officials felt his initial replies did not provide satisfactory answers. Adil Gilani was accused of being in touch secretly with the absconding Qasim Amin Dada, who was wanted in the NICL scam by the FIA.

The sources said that even Prime Minister Gilani was not happy with the ongoing investigations because some people close to him and his ministers were being questioned by the FIA. The PM was said to have told FIA bosses to shift investigation official Zafar Qureshi from the NICL scam case and his orders were immediately implemented. But, the chief justice of Pakistan took a note of this sudden change of investigators and Zafar Qureshi was reappointed on the same position after court intervention.

It is believed that influential elements of Islamabad did not want Zafar Ahmad Qureshi to investigate another suspect, Ayaz Khan Niazi, who was absconding after FIA booked him on land fraud cases. Government circles were fearing that Niazi might spill the beans. The fears turned out to be true when during investigations, Niazi disclosed important information on the basis of which the manager of Moonis Elahi was picked up last week. The manager was said to have given in writing that Rs230 million were transferred in his account which were actually meant for Moonis Elahi.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2011.