NICL probe officer fears threat to life

ISLAMABAD - Additional Director General FIA Zafar Qureshi on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that his life is under threat and being an investigative officer in NICL case he might be killed. Zafar Qureshi said: 'For the last many days I have been receiving threatening calls and if I die unnatural death then Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Ch. Wajahat Hussain, Moonis Elahi, Habibullah Warriach and Mohsin Habib Warriach will be responsible for it. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heading a four-member bench that comprises Justice Muhammad Sair Ali, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday, heard the suo moto hearing regarding violation of Public Procurement Rules, 2004 and thus caused loss of billions of rupees to public exchequer by National Insurance Company Ltd (NICL). The Chief Justice ordered the Attorney General of Pakistan to talk to the government for directives to Interior Ministry to provide Zafar Qureshi complete protection. He remarked that the court wants to bring back the looted money to the national exchequer, adding, the foreign exchange is flying out of the country and there was no control over it. The CJP said recently in India this kind of incident took place but there the agencies taken action against the culprit. Zafar Qureshi informed the court that so far they have recovered Rs 1 billion and 63 crores and deposited in the NICL accounts. He said FIA has received a certificate from England, attested by Consulate Attach Muhammad Irshad at Pakistani Embassy UK, that Moonis was not involved in the scam. Justice Ramday remarked how such statement could be issued for person who is a Proclaimed Offender and whoever has attested it is an abetment and therefore should be taken to task. The court has sought report from Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this regard. Zafar said they have filed cases against Amin Qasim Dada, Mohsin Habib Warriach and Rana Muhammad Ali in civil court and provided details of their properties to the judge, adding, they were making efforts to arrest Mohsin Warriach, Moonis Elahi and Rana Muhammad Ali another accused in the case. Qureshi said they have detected two fake bank accounts from where Moonis Elahi was paid Rs 220 million and Rs 100 million. Muhammad Malick, Manager Al-Tahoor Company, owned by Moonis, opened the fake accounts and transferred money to Mooniss accounts. 'We have also traced Rs140 million worth amount in Mooniss bank account in UK and they have written to Interpol to freeze that account, he said. Director FIA Moazzam Jah told the court that they have traced out three cases of corruption in NICL case. One is $20million in Dubai property, second Rs 300 million in painting and furniture at the Casabella and the purchase of 10 acres plot in Korangi, Karachi, at Rs 900 million, while the actual price of that piece of land is worth only Rs 600 million. He said they have conducted about 21 raids at various places in Karachi for the arrest of Amin Qasim Dada. Earlier, Secretary Commerce Akhtar Mehmood informed the court that they have contacted Auditor General of Pakistan for the audit of NICL accounts. The court directed the AGP to prepare audit report expeditiously. The court ordered the FIA DG to submit further investigation to the court by the next date of hearing and adjourned the case for one month.

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