News Desk |
A joint-investigation team formed by the honorable Supreme Court to probe money-laundering cases registered against former President Asif Zardari, his sister and 32 other people summoned the details for Sindh government’s Annual Development projects on Sunday, 11th November.
According to local media outlets, the details that have been sought date from 2013 to 2018, including the project charter, allocated budget, cash outflow, revise schemes, and expenses.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked, “We are forming a JIT in light of FIA’s statement that they do not have the expertise.” “If the suspects are not guilty then they will get a clean chit,” he added.
According to a document circulating on the social media, the JIT has requested the Sindh chief secretary to submit the details by November 12. Upon the request from JIT, the Sindh chief secretary directed the departments of planning, finance, power, irrigation, works, health, education, agriculture among others to submit the relevant details by Monday, today, the 12th of November.
It is pertinent to mention here that the JIT had earlier sought records of bank accounts owned by the provincial government over the past ten years. According to a letter seeking the details, the JIT solicited a record of all transactions made by the provincial government over the past decade. “The Sindh government should share the records of all accounts in all banks,” the letter read.
Read more: Did Zardari confess to fake accounts on live Tv?
These details are to include the list of contractors, including their names, addresses and NIC numbers. The letter also mentions the Suo Motu notice taken by the Supreme Court (SC) regarding the case. On September 6th, the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) has ordered in its much-awaited decision to constitute a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to look into money-
laundering and fake accounts case, allegedly involving former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur, GVS earlier reported. The SC ordered the formation on the recommendations of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The FIA presented its report on the 28th August and recommended the court to form a JIT.
The money, according to FIA sources, is said to be black money gathered from various kickbacks, commissions, and bribes.
“We are forming a JIT and it will submit a report on the matter every 15 days,” Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar had said as he headed a three-judge bench. The court has also directed the Rangers to provide security to officers of the FIA. Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked, “We are forming a JIT in light of FIA’s statement that they do not have the expertise.” “If the suspects are not guilty then they will get a clean chit,” he added.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur along with 32 others are being investigated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) as part of a corruption case relating to fake accounts and fictitious bank transactions worth Rs41.4 billion. The power siblings face allegations that they had illegally channeled funds through fake accounts in connivance with the CEOs of major banks.
Read more: SC orders to form JIT to probe money-laundering case against Asif…
Over 20 ‘benami’ accounts at some private banks were opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015 from where transactions worth billions of rupees were made, according to sources. The money, according to FIA sources, is said to be black money gathered from various kickbacks, commissions, and bribes.
Zardari’s close aide Hussain Lawai was arrested in July in connection with the probe. The former president’s another close aide and Omni Group chairman, Anwar Majeed, and his sons, Abdul Ghani Majeed and Namar Majeed, were also arrested by the FIA in August. Lawai, Majeed, and his son remain under custody.
Read more: Zardari, Talpur appear before FIA; record statements in money laundering case
Earlier this month, FIA sources informed that the mastermind of the money laundering and fake accounts case, Aslam Masood, had been arrested by the Interpol from Jeddah.