FIA registers money laundering case against Farah Gogi

Investigation reveals Rs1b was deposited in her accounts in last three years of PTI tenure

ISLAMABAD:

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered a case of money laundering against former first lady Bushra Bibi’s friend Farah Gogi and started investigation.

A case of money laundering was registered against Farah for the corruption of billions of rupees on the request of Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment Lahore.

It stated that Farah took billions of rupees as bribe for the transfer of regional police officers, commissioners, district police officers and deputy commissioners during the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf tenure.

It alleged that Farah illegally allotted 10 acres of land worth Rs600 million in the year 2021 in Faisalabad Industrial Estate in the name of her company Al Moiz Dairies and Foods Private Limited for only Rs80 million.

According to the FIR, Farah also took millions of rupees as bribe for illegally awarding contract tenders by pressuring government officials.

During the investigation, it was revealed that about Rs840 million was deposited in Farah’s personal bank accounts in the last three years of the previous PTI tenure, which did not match her sources of income.

In total, more than Rs1 billion was deposited in cash in all the bank accounts of Farah during PTI’s tenure. In the year 2019 and 2020 alone, about Rs410 million was deposited in Farah’s bank accounts in cash.

During the investigation, it is likely that more benami bank accounts worth billions of rupees would be found in Farah’s name.

“Assets worth around Rs520 million, including commercial and residential plots, plazas and houses in Lahore and Islamabad, built in the name of Farah during the previous PTI tenure have come to light.”

Farah earned billions of rupees through corruption, bribery and illegal political influence and pressure and then made assets through money laundering, the report added.

The FIA Lahore widened its scope of investigation by registering a case under sections three and four of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

There is a high probability that the investigation would lead to revelation of major political and officials’ names in connection with the black money earned by Farah, the report added.