Ministry rejects NAB request for red notices against builders

Says NAB submitted incomplete information; NAB officials call move ‘delaying tactic’

ISLAMABAD : Some objections raised by the Ministry of Interior over an application filed by the National Accountability Bureau for the issuance of ‘red notices’ through Interpol may delay the arrest of at least four suspects in a multi-billion rupee housing scam.

In May, NAB sent a request to the Interior Ministry recommending the issuance of red notices for the owners of Eden Housing (Pvt) Limited, for collecting over Rs13 billion in funds but subsequently failing to develop the scheme or hand over possession of plots to allottees.

The accused include Muhammad Amjad, Anjum Amjad, Murtaza Anjum, and Mustafa Anjum. All the accused fled the country in the first week of May after investigations against them progressed at NAB.



In February, NAB requested the Interior Ministry to place their names on the no-fly list, but a delay in this regard on the part of the ministry provided the accused with a chance to flee Pakistan.

After their departure from Pakistan, NAB approached the Ministry of Interior afresh for the issuance of red notices in a bid to bring the accused back, but the ministry has once again raised objections, citing an “incomplete application submitted by NAB”.

Through its application, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, NAB stated that the inquiry against the accused is at its initial stage and so far some 6,511 claimants have already registered their claims with NAB against the defaulted amount of Rs13 billion. NAB apprehended that the number of claimants and amount may increase in the coming days.

The documents required to initiate the process of red notice issuance include a Red Notice Application, a copy of the FIR, statements of witnesses, a domestic arrest warrant, proclamation order against the accused, a perpetual warrant of arrest, photographs of the accused, CNIC information, and travel history.

“Some of the requisite documents, that is proclamation order, and perpetual warrant of arrest could not be submitted instantly, however, the same will be produced at a later stage,” NAB had requested.



However, the Interior Ministry did not entertain the request, saying NAB has only submitted the Red Notice application form, warrant of arrest, travel history, and CNIC information. The ministry further stated that “NAB should send all the required documents” to move forward its application.

A source in NAB said that first the Interior Ministry delayed the bureau’s request regarding placement of the accused’s names on the ECL, which resulted in them slipping out of the country, and now it is using delaying tactics in the issuance of red notices.

He said delays on the part of the interior ministry are creating hurdles in completing pending investigations against the accused.



NAB Lahore had ordered an inquiry against all the projects of Eden Housing after a large number of investors protested against the owners for not developing plots and handing over possession to them.

NAB has already frozen all known moveable and immovable properties of the owners of the scheme.

The Interior Ministry was contacted for comment, but no one was willing to speak on the record.