Money laundering case: Warrants issued for five absconding suspects

Zardari, Faryal appear before banking court

KARACHI: A banking court on Tuesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants against five absconding suspects in the Rs35 billion money laundering case. These suspects include Hussain Lotha, Arif Khan and Azam Wazir Khan. According to  Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials, the arrest of the suspects could not be made earlier as they were abroad but now attempts were being made to arrest them immediately. The court adjourned the hearing till October 16.

Former president Asif Zardari, sister Faryal Talpur and Anwar Majeed's sons Zulqarnain and Ali Majeed appeared before the court for the hearing.

Barrister Jamshed Malik said that the employees of Omni Group have been affected due to the freezing of accounts on which the judge replied that orders of the Supreme Court (SC) need to be honoured.

Barrister Jamshed maintained that the SC has not placed a bar on hearing and questioned whether the court will need SC's permission to conduct a hearing. The judge suggested that the hearing on the issue of accounts freezing will be started after the verdict of SC was made available.

Dr Naveedullah of National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), who issued the medical certificates for suspects Anwar Majeed and Abdul Ghani Majeed, also appeared before the court. Naveedullah was questioned how he could prevent a suspect from appearing before the court to which he replied that Anwar Majeed's health was not good because of which he was recommended not to go to court. On being inquired about the medical reports, Dr Naveedullah replied that the suspect was not under his care but was being looked after by another surgeon.

The judge remarked, "The question that arises is why a prisoner under hearing was not presented in court. The court will investigate this matter. This is strange as no prisoner is barred from medical treatment but bringing the suspect to court is important," the judge added.

The court also inquired about Dr Nousheen Iqbal, who had prepared the medical certificate of Ghani Majeed, and ordered her to appear in court.

The lawyers of the suspects also questioned the FIA about the final challan to which the court remarked that the case was being heard at the SC and only they could direct the FIA to prepare the challan.

On the directives of the court, the jail officials presented the suspects Anwar Majeed, Hussain Lawai and Abdul Ghani Majeed one by one. The suspects marked their attendance. Suspect Abdul Ghani Majeed appeared healthy and was given special courtesy by the jail administration while he walked into court. He was also presented without the orange-coloured jacket that suspects under hearing are made to wear and was brought in an air-conditioned armoured vehicle.

Zardari talks to media

After the hearing, Zardari, in an informal talk with the media, said that he holds the current government responsible for the current flare up in ties between Pakistan and India. "In such an environment and with such a government, these things are bound to happen," Zardari commented. On a question regarding the mini budget, the former president termed it a 'mini drama.'

Suspect Anwar Majeed said that he was unaware that a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has been formed and neither was he called. The suspect said that he would appear before the JIT if summoned. Claiming that he was unwell, he said that his doctor rejected the medical report submitted in the SC. He maintained that they were hearing just one side of the story. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2018.