Future Concern: Bank accounts traced in visa fraud case

Proceedings initiated for attachment of assets.

LAHORE:

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has traced 23 bank accounts linked to Future Concern Associates (Pvt) Ltd, an immigration consultancy firm charged with committing fraud. Clients of the firm claim that they paid fees for help in procuring visas that were never delivered.

Under Sections 17/18/23 of Emigration Ordinance 1979 and Section 406 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), the FIA has registered 162 cases against CEO Asim Mehmood Malik, his wife, Zobia Rubab Malik (the firm’s administration and finance director), and their employees. Combined, these charges add up to Rs440 million, 1,650 Canadian dollars, 132,500 US dollars, 2,500 UK pounds, and 1,500 Australian dollars allegedly received by the firm for services not rendered.

Five employees of the firm have been arrested and sent to judicial lockup, but the two main accused remain at large. Asim Malik has been accused in all 162 FIRs and also declared a proclaimed offender by the court in all of the cases.

Interpol has issued a red notice for Asim Malik, who was recently seen in Dubai and the FIA has requested a red notice be issued for Zobia Malik as well.

According to the FIA, on April 4, 2013 Mrs Malik fled Pakistan on an Emirates flight with her four children. Both Mr and Mrs Malik have had multiple passports in their names.

Throughout the investigation, the FIA has failed to trace property held in Malik’s name, though it has identified properties held in the name of his wife. The FIA has also now identified eight bank accounts under the company’s name, six bank accounts held by Asim Malik, and nine accounts held by Zobia Malik.

According to the FIA report, proceedings are being initiated against the suspects for attachment of assets in their names under Sections 87 and 88 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2013.