The government has tasked two seasoned officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to assist the Broadsheet Commission in its probe.
The investigation officers include FIA Economic Crime Wing Headquarters Islamabad Assistant Director Muhammad Amanullah Khan and FIA Anti-Corruption Circle Lahore Zone Assistant Director Ahsan Ali Hani Bajwa. Khan is recipient of the Pride of Performance award.
The services of both the officials were placed at the disposal of the Broadsheet Commission on the directions of FIA Director General Wajid Zia. A notification in this regard has also been issued.
The Broadsheet inquiry commission led by Justice (retd) Azmat Saeed will complete the probe in six weeks and hand over the report to Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The commission has started its work in the secretariat set up in the Federal Shariat Court. The head of the commission has also been empowered to constitute committees of experts under which, the services of two FIA officials have been sought.
As per the terms of reference, the commission will examine the process of selection and appointment of assets recovery firms — Trouvons LLC, Broadsheet LLC and International Asset Recovery Limited (IAR) — and execution of agreements in 2000 to trace the offshore assets of Pakistanis stashed abroad.
It will also probe into the circumstances, reasons and effect of cancellation of agreements with Broadsheet LLC and IAR in 2003.
The commission will also identify the persons or officials responsible for making wrong payment of $1.5 million to the wrong person in 2008 who was not entitled to receive such payment.
In December 2020, a high court in the UK had ordered debiting Rs4.5 billion from the accounts of the Pakistan High Commission in London over non-payment of a penalty by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to the foreign asset recovery firm Broadsheet LLC.
The inquiry will determine as to whether after finalisation of the award and appellate proceedings before the High Court at London and the process of making payments to the claimant was legal and in accordance with the prescribed rules and procedure.
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