Asif Zardari's name to be placed on ECL: Fawad Ch
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary addressed a press conference on Thursday.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government has decided to place 172 people on the Exit Control List (ECL) including former president Asif Ali Zardari.
Briefing media about the decisions taken by the cabinet meeting, Fawad Chaudhry said that the cabinet took this important initiative as some personalities involved in the fake accounts and money laundering case including PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari were found saying that they are not taking JIT report seriously.
He said that the joint investigation team (JIT), investigating the alleged money laundering cases under the instructions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, has revealed that government resources were used to launder money abroad.
He vowed to ensure transparency in the accountability process regarding national assets.
“We hope that Mr Zardari will consider this JIT seriously,” he said.
Regarding former MQM leader Ali Raza Abidi’s murder, he said that the federal meeting examined certain aspects of the current law and order situation in Karachi, where an attempt has been made to disrupt peace and security of the urban city.
“Karachi’s peace is interlinked with the backbone of Pakistan’s economy,” he stated, adding that various criminal groups have been ‘reactivated’ in the city.
Regarding threats being given by the MQM leader Altaf Hussain, he vowed that the matter would be raised with the British government as Abidi has been murdered following his threats.
“We have seen Altaf Hussain’s incitement and orders from Britain to disrupt peace and commit murders here,” he said further, adding that his hate speech has went viral on the social media.
Besides, he expressed annoyance over performance and result of CCTV cameras installed in Karachi.
The information minister said that polls for the FATA s provincial assembly will be held in June, and asserted that all basic necessities would be provided to the general public and the government has been committed to bring the tribal areas into the mainstream.
Furthermore, he pledged that the government would increase reserved seats for women in the national assembly and senate.
The money laundering case against Zardari
Earlier on December 24, the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), formed on the apex court’s orders to probe into the alleged money-laundering case, presented its 128-page final report to the court which included recommendations for filing 16 NAB references.
Moreover, the report mentioned that earlier 29 fake accounts were identified by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) which laundered Rs42 billion, however, the team further discovered 11,500 bank accounts of 924 account holders, 59 Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) and 24,500 Cash Transactions Reports (CTRs).
All of these details were scrutinized, besides the loan profile of 924 individuals.
The report further concluded that the fake accounts were opened through the Omni Group, however the accounts had been engaged with direct transactions with the Zardari Group, Bahria Town, Sindh Government departments and certain contractors while the ultimate beneficiary of money laundering was Zardari’s family.
Meanwhile, the court has ordered Zardari to submit his reply by December 31.
Ali Raza Abidi’s murder
On Tuesday, two unidentified assailants opened fire on Abidi’s vehicle outside his residence in DHA Phase V area of Karachi.
The attack killed him while his autopsy report concluded that he sustained four bullet wounds.
Meanwhile, police and rangers cordoned off the site of the attack and collected evidence for investigation into the incident.
