NICL scam: Moonis blames FIA for ‘baseless defamation’

Agency refused to record statement as Elahi appeared a day earlier than scheduled.

LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) refused to record Moonis Elahi’s statement in connection to his alleged involvement in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) fraud case for technical reasons, allowing Elahi the opportunity to accuse the investigators of baseless defamation.

According to the FIA, the court adjudicating the case had ordered Elahi to first apply for an extension in his bail before the FIA would be allowed to record his statement. Elahi has not yet appeared before the court and hence the FIA refused to record his statement.

The agency was ordered by the court not to arrest Elahi. The FIA had asked Elahi to appear before the investigating officers on Saturday, February 26, at 3 pm. Elahi visited the FIA offices in Lahore on Friday, at a time when the team investigating his case was not present on the premises.

Elahi used the opportunity to rally his political supporters, many of whom had accompanied him to the FIA office. “I am here,” said Elahi. “I came to the FIA office immediately on my return but the FIA, despite repeated demands, did not produce the FIR and proofs of the baseless accusations. Political players behind the false case will soon be exposed,” he added.

Elahi has been accused of using political influence to force the state-owned NICL to buy land at highly inflated valuations. The FIA also alleges that some of the land sold to the NICL was not even owned by Elahi and his associates.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2011.