ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Saturday ordered shifting of business tycoon Anwar Majeed and others to Islamabad to conduct ‘independent probe’ in a money laundering case, ARY News reported.
All the three accused are currently imprisoned in the money laundering case involving Rs35 billion transferred through fake accounts to three local banks.
Hearing the case at the Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar said these people were influential having clout in Karachi. “Let’s move them to Islamabad so than an independent investigation be conducted into the case,” said the CJP.
The apex court also ordered shifting the trio to Adiala Jail from Karachi prison.
“We will look if they needed to be sent back to Karachi after the investigation completes,” chief justice said during the hearing.
Director General Federal Investigation Agency, Bashir Memon, told the court that Anwar Majeed was not cooperating in the investigation.
The CJP responded that the joint investigation team had now powers, hence a comprehensive report be furnished into the case within 10 days.
In his plea, the lawyer of Mr. Majeed insisted that his client be probed in Karachi. Justice Ejazul Hasan, who was also part of the bench, questioned if there was any particular reason to limit the probe to Karachi.
Chief justice said if Mr. Anwar Majeed had difficulties in traveling via a routine flight therefore he should be brought to Islamabad through an air ambulance.
The fake accounts case
The Supreme Court in July had taken up a suo motu case regarding fake accounts that revolves around a 2015 inquiry into the suspicious transactions when 29 ‘benami’ bank accounts were identified. Seven individuals were found involved in transacting Rs35bn suspiciously.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is currently investigating this money-laundering scam which involves former president Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur, and close aide Anwar Majeed and other influential people.
The accounts were allegedly used to channel funds received through kickbacks.
The investigation has, however, revealed that the amount laundered can go up to Rs100billion.
