Fraud cases: PM’s ex-media adviser sent to Adiala Jail on 14-day judicial remand

FIA request for extension in physical remand turned down.

ISLAMABAD:

A local on Wednesday sent Khurram Rasool, the former media coordinator to the Prime Minister, to Adiala Jail on judicial remand for 14 days.

The court turned down the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) request for an extension in the physical remand of the accused arrested on fraud charges.

The former media adviser, who spent 11 days in FIA custody on physical remand, was presented before the court of District and Sessions Judge Shah Rukh Arjumand handcuffed.

FIA Inspector Irfan Burney presented Rasool’s medical report to the judge along with a request for extension in his physical remand to verify his signatures through forensic testing.

However, the judge turned down the request and asked Rasool to provide a specimen of his signature in open court for forensic verification. The judge directed the FIA to present a challan of the case on the next hearing on February 21.

Outside the court, Rasool said that the FIA had first accused him of defrauding Rs760 million in the LPG case, but they are now convinced that the actual amount was Rs160 million.

He said his family is being deliberately dragged into the case. “Even though they have nothing to do with the case, arrest warrants were issued against my wife and brother.”

During the last hearing, Rasool alleged that the FIA team had mentally and physically tortured him during the investigation despite the fact that he willingly surrendered to the police.

Rasool was charged in two cases -- the LPG fraud and a case on the complaint of Sohail Rabbani, who alleged that he paid Rs71 million for allocation of a quota to export sugar to TCP (Trading Corporation of Pakistan), which was instead deposited into the account of True Corporation, which also uses the acronym TCP and is allegedly owned by Rasool. Later Rasool gave Rabbani a cheque for Rs6.5 million, which was dishonoured by a bank.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2012.