Illegal transfer of 19 million pounds to Pakistan: Sheikh Rashid, Fawad Chaudhry to appear in NAB Rawalpindi office today
ISLAMABAD ( Web News )
Awami Muslim League Chief and former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former federal minister for information and broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry will appear before National Accountability Court (NAB), Rawalpindi office on the matter of transfer of 19 million pounds to Pakistan which is under investigation for recording their statements as witness.
Interrogation from several members of former prime minister and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan’s cabinet on the matter of transfer of 19 million pounds to Pakistan was underway. The two former federal ministers were directed to appear before the court today (Monday) at 11:00 AM.
Previously the NAB had summoned Imran Khan’s cabinet’s 21 former members and business tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain’s son Ahmed Ali Riaz Malik. The NAB was investigating the matter of transfer of the aforementioned amount from British to Pakistan. Former ministers who have been sent notices by NAB include Asad Umar, Shafqat Mahmood, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Fawad Chaudhry, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Muhammad Faisal Vawda, Sahabzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan, Senator Azam Khan Swati, Umar Ayub Khan, Muhammad Mian Soomro, Murad Saeed, Ali Amin Gandapur, Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Dr. Shireen M. Mazari, Brigadier (retd) Ijaz Ahmed Shah, Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, Makhdum Khusro Bakhtiyar, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Zubaida Jalal and others.
Moreover, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Fawad Chaudhry were summoned and asked to appear before the Bureau along with the record of case. Both were directed to appear before the NAB Rawalpindi office located at Melody, Islamabad. The notice was issued by additional director Muhammad Faisal Qureshi. Former federal ministers Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan and Muhammad Faisal Vawda were directed to appear before the NAB on tomorrow (Tuesday).
The Subject of the NAB notice:
The call up notice to the witnesses U/S of NAO, 1999 – inquiry against holders of public office and others qua misuse of authority, financial gains and criminal breach of trust in recovery of crime proceeds received from UK and illegal sealing of its record
It is said in the call up notices sent to the former federal ministers of Imran Khan’s cabinet that whereas the competent authority has taken cognizance of an offence of corruption and corrupt practices allegedly committed by the subject persons, under the provisions of NAO, 1999.
Whereas, the inquiry into the allegations of misuse of authority financial gains and criminal breach of trust has revealed that you being Cabinet Member have attended Cabinet Meeting dated 3rd December, 2019 held at the Prime Minister’s Office, wherein a decision was made on Item No-2 titled “Account Freezing Orders ”AFO’s” and Repatriation of Funds to Pakistan in Mr. Ahmed Ali Riaz, and family and Messers Bahria Town (Pvt) Ltd” presented and briefed by Special Assistant to the Prime minister on Accountability and Interior and also directed the Cabinet Secretary to seal the record, therefore, you are in possession of information /evidence whatsoever, which relates to the commission of the said offences(s).
The notices further says, in view, therefore, you are called upon to appear on so and so date at NAB (Raw), Civic Centre, G-6-Melody, Islamabad before the CIT, along with documentary evidence, to record your statement.
You are advised that failing to comply with this notice, may entail penal consequences as provided in S.2 of the schedule of NAO, 1999. The notices have been sent by Additional Director (Staff), NAB Rawalpinid, Muhammad Faisal Qureshi.