Visa fraud: LHC wants Asim Malik to be arrested in 10 days

FIA DG, who did not appear before the court, warned he could be sent to jail.

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court on Wednesday warned the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general (DG) he would be sent to jail if the agency fails to arrest the owner of a visa consultancy firm in 10 days.

Asim Malik, the owner of Future Concerns, is accused of taking millions from people by promising to send them abroad. Malik neither sent them abroad and nor did he return the money, complainants say.

On Wednesday, the FIA DG did not appear before the court – despite being summoned – which upset Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi. He observed that the DG would be “the first person” to be sent to jail if the owner of Future Concerns was not arrested.

He remarked that government functionaries should not have “any misconceptions” that the court could not get its orders implemented.

The judge was hearing over 108 petitions filed against Malik.

Counsels for the petitioners stated before the court that the accused Malik could not be arrested until Rehman Malik runs the affairs of the Interior Ministry.

The judge also accepted the unconditional apology tendered by a superintendent of police and Kohsar (Islamabad) station house officer. They had been issued show cause notices for not appearing before the court when they they were summoned. The FIA had alleged that the police officials had not cooperated with the agency in arresting the accused.

The court has already ordered the FIA to confiscate Malik’s assets and also put his name on the exit control list (ECL).

The judge adjourned the hearing till December 14, after directing the FIA DG to ensure his appearance before the court.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2012.