The Supreme Court on Monday ordered to freeze the properties of Omni Group, Zardari Group and Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz, banning the trading and transfer of the properties till the disposal of the case.
A two-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Ejazul Ahsan heard the fake bank accounts case.
The report of the joint investigation team (JIT) probing the fake bank accounts case was shown on a projector at the courtroom. PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s legal team — led by Farooq H. Naek and Lateef Khosa — appeared before the bench at the Lahore registry.
The chief justice said that the properties of the groups will be attached.
ALSO READ
Over 5,000 Fake Accounts Were Used to Launder Money From Pakistan
The court issued notices to former President Asif Ali Zardari, Bahria Town chairman Malik Riaz, CEO Zain Malik for December 31, 2018.
The chief justice remarked that there was a troika of Omni Group, Bahria Town and Zardari group.
The JIT report has held former president Asif Zardari, Omni Group and Bahria Town responsible in the mega money laundering and fake accounts case.
During the hearing, the chief justice remarked, household expenses of Zardari and Bilawal were paid through these companies. “Zardari and Bilawal’s heater bills and even the money spent on their dogs was paid by someone else,” he added.
The JIT in its report said that money was transferred through fake accounts for the construction of Bilawal Houses in Karachi and Lahore. These companies paid for Bilawal’s family’s monthly expenditure of over Rs 1.2 million” the report added.
ALSO READ
SECP Tightens Rules to Comply with FATF’s Anti-Money Laundering Recommendations
During the course of hearing of the case, the CJP while addressing Zardari’s counsel Farooq H Naek said that this is a matter of billions of rupees and we will not forgive. Those who looted billions are now engaging in mischief, the top judge said.
Turning to Omni Group counsels Muneer Bhatti and Shahid Hamid, Justice Nisar said,
It seems that Omni Group owners are still sitting on high horses. They have looted billions of rupees of the nation and are still engaging in mischief.
The court ordered Asif Ali Zardari to submit his reply by December 28 on the JIT report. Further hearing of the case was adjourned till December 31, 2017.
Matlab Zardari sb number le gy aj phir Mian sb pe ? #Corruption
Aik zardari…poory mulak py bhari..
Main sb k bachon k karnamy jb samny aain gy to pta chaly ga