JIT summons Riaz on allegations against Arsalan

ISLAMABAD - The Joint Investigation Team (JIT), operating under the chair of Director General Financial Crimes Investigation Wing (FCIW), has summoned Malik Riaz Hussain on Monday (July 16) in connection with the allegations he had leveled against Dr Arsalan Iftikhar.In the meantime, Dr Arsalan Iftikhar has filed a review petition in the apex court doubting the impartiality of the JIT head and some other investigators, who according to him are under the influence of Malik Riaz Hussain, and demanded of the apex court to make Chairman NAB and one Salman Ahmed party in the case. Dr Arsalan Iftikhar, in his petition, has also raised objection on the credibility of Kausar Iqbal, head of JIT, and charged that the fellow is under influence of Malik Riaz Hussain and is also living in the house given to him in Bahria Town by Malik Riaz Hussain.It is pertinent to mention here that while disposing of the suo motu notice taken in connection with graft case involving Arsalan Iftikhar, Malik Riaz Hussain and his son-in-law Salman Ali Khan, the apex court directed the Attorney General to take strict legal action against all the three according to the law, as "they might have committed illegal acts."  Sources close to Arsalan Iftikhar informed TheNation that they smelled a rat in the handling of the inquiry by JIT under the head of NAB and it could be proved from the fact that the notice the NAB had served on Malik Riaz Hussain to appear before in a fashion as if he is not an accused in the case and just summoned to present record being acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case.Sources further informed that DG, FCIW Malik Kausar Iqbal, who is currently heading the JIT, was close buddy of former law minister and once linchpin of President Zardari, Dr Babar Awan. It was due to his closeness with Dr. Babar Awan that besides heading FCIW he also managed to secure the slot of DG Operations as well, despite the fact that the then Chairman NAB Naveed Ahsan did not like him. Sources further informed that he was also having strong clout with the then Prosecutor General NAB Irfan Qadir, who is currently serving as Attorney General of Pakistan and hence could not come out of his influence while dealing with the case.Meanwhile according to the press release issued by NAB in this connection the Joint Investigation Team has summoned Malik Riaz Hussain for personal appearance and recording of statement on Monday.JIT will interview and examine Malik Riaz on the details of his allegations. JIT has obtained relevant record from various agencies on Arsalan Iftikhar case and more evidence is expected in the next two days. The information is being collected under the provisions of National Accountability Ordinance 1999. Notices under section 19 have also been issued to different banks and financial institutions for obtaining information and record on transactions and accounts respecting the beneficiaries.The JIT may also examine the case from a money laundering perspective as well. According to section 20 suspicious financial transactions fall within the domain of NAB and make it mandatory for the banks to report such transactions. JIT has reasons to suspect that transactions subject matter of present inquiry involve an international dimension necessitating probe of bank accounts in UAE, UK and offshore banking systems.JIT has also finalized a procedure for recording statements of persons privy to the facts and circumstances of the case who are either not residents of Pakistan or are foreign nationals.

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