LAHORE: Zafar Qureshi, the chief investigator of the multi-billion rupee National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scandal, retired on Friday after submitting the last fortnightly interim progress report on the case. Sources told The Express Tribune that the report had been filed before the scheduled date of October 6, 2011.
The report was due to be presented in the chamber of Supreme Court Judge Justice Amir Hani Muslim, overseen by a three-member bench of the SC. However, due to Qureshi’s retirement from his posts of Additional Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Managing Director National Police Foundation, he filed prior to the deadline.
The 100-page interim report makes the following claims regarding Moonis Elahi, son of former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, and accused of opening bogus bank accounts in the name of his wife and manager Muhammad Malik. Firstly, that Elahi was registered in 2007 by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) as a taxpayer. In 2008 he filed the return papers as he has been drawing a salary of Rs2.4 million annually from At –Tahur Company Limited. His annual income from agriculture was shown as half a million rupees in his papers. Interestingly, in 2009 Qureshi in his investigation found that Elahi’s assets suddenly exceeded Rs640 million. Elahi subsequently showed Rs340 million cash in hand.
During investigation, Malik, the manager of Moonis Elahi’s firm, emerged as the central figure in the dubious transaction involving transfer of Rs320 million from the bank account of Mohsin Habib Warraich (son of former state minister for defence production Major (retd) Habibullah Warraich) to Elahi’s account. Warraichs are the principal accused in the NICL fraud.
Malik played a pivotal role in opening of fake bank accounts on the basis of Computerized National Identity Cards (CNIC) of two presumed sponsors of phony firms (Adil Traders and Khadim Traders) in ABL Airport and Multan Road branches, respectively.
Subsequently he withdrew the entire amount of Rs320 million received as Moonis Elahi’s share in the deal, the report said.
Malik also played a role in depositing the same cash in the accounts of Moonis Elahi, his wife and companies owned by Elahi.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2011.
COMMENTS (11)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Nassar: We have no problem with Zafar Qureshi's vendetta as long as the corrupt politician is punished for corruption on the basis of his comprehensive inquiry.
@Pundit: Mr qureshi was brave man
Qureshi has done a great job for which he will always be remembered. With his departure from the scene, the mighty corrupt family from Gujrat with the active support of our most corrupt Federal Govt. may be able to save their young son from the otherwise inevitable punishment but the entire nation knows that Moonis Elahi and his wife are not innocent.
Will ne be the Anna Hazare of Pakistan
The ball lies solidly in the courts square. This is a high profile case almost as 'open-and-shut ' as the Mumtaz Quadri / Salman Taseer case and the peoples expectation that the judiciary will deliver, is high.
Mr Queshi has done his job. Well done Sir. Fighting against Corruption is the best service you can do for the country. Please do no expect return from leaders because no one can pay you back what you have done for the country. Its God who can and will pay you what you have done. Now its on the public of Pakistan and court to decide where they want to move their country to?.
Wake up Corrupt People and start following honesty, Truth, Hardworking, Faith and unity otherwise we will lose this country and we are already facing it.
And what is FBR doing about all this information?
Lot many involved in crime already fled country with cash and assets. These are true terrortist who should be brought back to the country and hanged.
Mr. Qureshi has done his job. It is now up to the court to not let the case linger on and allow his replacement to destroy the case. They should rule on the case soon.
Mr Qureshi should be hailed as a National Hero in Pakistan!