NAB summons Farah Khan in assets case

Husband and 19 others facing allegations of embezzlement, money laundering also summoned

LAHORE:

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB)-Lahore has summoned former first lady Bushra Bibi’s close friend Farah Khan, her husband Ahsan Iqbal Jamil and Chaudhry Majeed, along with 19 others, in the assets case against her.

The anti-graft watchdog has directed Farah to appear before the deputy director at the NAB provincial headquarters at Thokar Niaz Baig, along with relevant documents on July 20, while her husband Ahsan Iqbal Jamil has been also summoned on the same day.

In addition to this, NAB has also summoned Abdul Majeed, Tariq Mahmoodul Hassan, Mazahir Baig, Munir, Asif and Waqar in the same case on July 15 while Muhammad Farid has been ordered to appear on July 14.

Shandana Awan, Mohammad Naeem, Waqas Rifat, Sajid Hussain, Ahmed Mansoor, Asad Majeed, Hamid Hameed, Shehzad Ahmed, Anwarul Haq and Nasir Nawaz have also been summoned in the same case.

Earlier in May, the NAB-Lahore had summoned four accused in the assets beyond means case of Farah Khan. The bureau had sent notices to her manager, cashier and bankers. All four people were directed to appear before the NAB on May 30 along with the relevant records.

In April, the anti-graft watchdog had stated in a press statement that the DG NAB Lahore was directed to conduct an inquiry against Farah Khan over allegations of illegal assets beyond known sources of income, money laundering and maintaining various accounts in the name of different businesses.

Google search shows ‘Gogi’

Meanwhile, Punjab Home Minister Ataullah Tarar responded to a defamation notice worth Rs6 billion sent to him by Farha for wrongly referring to her as "Gogi" during press talks, claiming her name was Farhat Shahzadi.

In his reply through his counsel on Wednesday, Tarar argued that Farah was widely known as “Gogi” and claimed the name appeared as such even in Google search.

“The allegations made by Farah against his client are false and baseless,” the lawyer asserted and doubled down on the allegations that Farah had embezzled billions of rupees from the national exchequer, along with Ahsan and Bushra Bibi, under the patronage of former prime minister Imran Khan.

The response also mentioned that Farah is under investigation by federal and provincial anti-corruption agencies and has fled the country to avoid corruption investigation and punishment.

According to the law, they are continuing their efforts to bring Farah back through a red warrant, and she will have to face the investigation on her return home, it was added.