FIA claims progress in money laundering case against KKF

Some documentary evidence has been sent to UK for verification, FIA tells court

KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) claimed on Saturday that it has made some progress in gathering "some oral and documentary evidences" in money laundering case against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder, Altaf Hussain.

In a progress report submitted in the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC-II) on Saturday, the FIA said that the federal government has already constituted a joint investigation team (JIT) under section 19(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) to investigate the case. However, the concerned departments are yet to nominate their representatives for the JIT, said the report.

The ATC-II was hearing a case relating to transfer of money to Altaf Hussain in London through MQM's charity wing, Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation (KKF). A case in this regard was registered by FIA in September 2017 under various sections of ATA, Pakistan Penal Code and Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010, on the complaint of Sarfaraz Anwar Merchant.

The report signed by the JIT secretary, and submitted before the court FIA Inspector Raees claimed that concrete evidence against the MQM founder and several others in the case have been found. It has been decided that the documentary evidences will be verified by UK, said the report adding that the documents will be sent through foreign ministry.



According to the report, the JIT has also decided to refer the list of weapons found from MQM founder's home in London to relevant authorities to see if these weapons match with the weapons detailed in their record or FIRs. "The list of weapons recovered from MQM secretariat, London, provided by the complainant, has been referred to the AIG (Forensic) with the request to match the description of the weapons mentioned in the list with the FIRSs in which such types of weapons are used and provide the details of such FIRs to this agency," said the report.

Saying that "some more documentary and oral evidences are yet to be collected, especially replies regarding purchase of weapons are awaited from UK through ministry of foreign affairs," the FIA requested the court to adjourn the proceedings. The court fixed the next hearing on April 19.

Baldia factory case

A judicial magistrate while appearing in Baldia factory case before a special anti-terrorism court testified the statement of a key witness recorded in the ATC during last hearing.

The jail authorities presented MQM's Abdul Rehman Bhola and Zubair Charya before the ATC in Central Jail. MQM leader Rauf Siddiqui and others, who are on bail, also appeared before the court.

Special Public Prosecutor, Sajid Mehboob Sheikh, and the judicial magistrate, Sabghatullah, who had recorded statement of key witness, Arshad, also appeared before the court.

The judicial magistrate identified the witness, Arshad, and informed the court that he had recorded the statement of the witness under section 164 of Criminal Procedure Code.

The witness in his statement on April 1, had informed the court that he was present at the Baldia factory on the day of the incident. He said that Zubair Charya and his accomplices came to the warehouse on that day. They smoked hashish outside the warehouse bathroom after which Zubair Charya threw packets of chemicals on the clothes in the warehouse which immediately caught fire, said Arsha. Zubair Charya then did the same at the second floor, he added.

Public Prosecutor Sheikh had said that accused Abdur Rehman alias Bhola had confessed in his statement that he had given the chemicals to Zubair Charya, to put the factory on fire.

The court asked for factory's inspection report, other witnesses of the case and adjourned the hearing till April 15.

Media house attack case

Another anti-terrorism court adjourned hearing of anti-Pakistan slogans, siege and arson and media houses attack cases due to the leave of judicial magistrate. Hearing of two cases was held before a special anti-terrorism court.  MQM Rabita Committee's senior deputy convener Amir Khan, Farooq Sattar, Kanwar Naveed Jameel, Gulfaraz Khattak, Qamar Mansoor and Shahid Pasha including several other suspects appeared before the court.

Farooq Sattar and Amir Khan deposited the receipt of the penalty imposed by the court at the last hearing for showing up late. The court had fined Rs500 on both the leaders. Special public prosecutor, Sajid Mehboob Sheikh also appeared before the court.  The court was scheduled on Saturday to record the statements of judicial magistrate, Kaleemullah Kalhoro. The court was informed that judicial magistrate was on leave. The court registered the attendance of the suspects. Statement of the judicial magistrate will be recorded at the next hearing. The court adjourned the case hearing till April 27.



Challan accepted

A special anti-terrorism court accepting the challan of the rape and murder case of an 11-year old girl provided a copy of the case papers to the suspects. The suspects are likely to be indicted at the next hearing. The hearing was held at the Karachi Central jail, anti-terrorism complex.

Bin Qasim police presented challan against suspects Farhan, Ayaz, Shan and several others. According to the challan, two suspects, Ayaz and Farhan confessed to rape and murder during the investigation. The challan stated that the suspect Farhan has stated that he and Ayaz had planned of raping the child on Feb 28, 2019. He tricked the 11-year old B* and took her to a vacant flat. After tying the girl, Ayaz and Farhan raped her. After rape, they strangled her and dumped the body into a water tank.

Terrorist facilitation case

Another ATC expressing displeasure over absence of special pubic prosecutor provided copy of the documents presented by the JIT chief to the suspects. Hearing of the case pertaining to offering treatment facilities to the terrorists was held before a special anti-terrorism court. Dr. Asim Hussain, Anis Qaimkhani, Rauf Siddiqui and Usman Moazzam appeared before the court while Pakistan Peoples Party leader and MNA Qadir Patel's counsel filed an exemption plea. The court accepted Qadir Patel's plea.

Rangers prosecutor, Sajid Mehboob Sheikh requested the court to also provide him with the copy of the documents. The court expressed displeasure over the absence of the special public prosecutor, JM Bhutto and adjourned the hearing till April 20.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th, 2019.