NICL land scam: Moonis Elahi told to appear before FIA
If the son of former Punjab CM fails to appear, arrest warrants will be issued against him.
ISLAMABAD:
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has directed Moonis Elahi, the son of former chief minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, to appear before its investigators on Wednesday (today), regarding his alleged involvement in the multi-billion-rupee National Insurance Company (NICL) land scam – failing which arrest warrants will be issued against him.
Currently a member of the Punjab Assembly, Elahi’s involvement was allegedly confirmed by his own company’s manager, Abdul Malick, in a written statement given to the FIA following his arrest.
Elahi has been directed to face FIA questions before investigators decide on whether to formally book him in relation to charges of being given a share of Rs230milion from the dirty NICL land deal.
Official sources have confirmed to The Express Tribune that if Elahi does not appear before the FIA team in Lahore today, his arrest warrants would be issued. He will then be formally charged with playing a key role in the scam and face criminal proceedings.
The decision to summon Moonis Elahi was taken after he frankly refused to receive questions sent to his office address by the FIA.
Elahi’s name first surfaced in the NICL scam when former chairman NICL, Ayaz Khan Niazi, revealed to the FIA that a sum of Rs230million was also paid to Moonis Elahi by Mohsin Warriach, the key accused who is now absconding in London.
In light of Niazi’s statement, Elahi’s company manager, Malick, was picked up by FIA. He reportedly told the FIA that it was true that a sum of Rs230million was transferred to a fake bank account set up for Moonis Elahi.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary adjourned the hearing of NICL scam and fixed January 22 as the new date to get update on the case.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2011.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has directed Moonis Elahi, the son of former chief minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, to appear before its investigators on Wednesday (today), regarding his alleged involvement in the multi-billion-rupee National Insurance Company (NICL) land scam – failing which arrest warrants will be issued against him.
Currently a member of the Punjab Assembly, Elahi’s involvement was allegedly confirmed by his own company’s manager, Abdul Malick, in a written statement given to the FIA following his arrest.
Elahi has been directed to face FIA questions before investigators decide on whether to formally book him in relation to charges of being given a share of Rs230milion from the dirty NICL land deal.
Official sources have confirmed to The Express Tribune that if Elahi does not appear before the FIA team in Lahore today, his arrest warrants would be issued. He will then be formally charged with playing a key role in the scam and face criminal proceedings.
The decision to summon Moonis Elahi was taken after he frankly refused to receive questions sent to his office address by the FIA.
Elahi’s name first surfaced in the NICL scam when former chairman NICL, Ayaz Khan Niazi, revealed to the FIA that a sum of Rs230million was also paid to Moonis Elahi by Mohsin Warriach, the key accused who is now absconding in London.
In light of Niazi’s statement, Elahi’s company manager, Malick, was picked up by FIA. He reportedly told the FIA that it was true that a sum of Rs230million was transferred to a fake bank account set up for Moonis Elahi.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary adjourned the hearing of NICL scam and fixed January 22 as the new date to get update on the case.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2011.