Money laundering: CJ hints at constituting Panama Leaks-like JIT

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar warned on Monday that the court will constitute a joint investigation team (JIT) in money laundering case similar to the one formed to probe the Panama Leaks case against convicted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. A bench headed by the chief justice heard a suo motu case relating an investigation into fictitious transactions worth billions conducted through several mainstream banks via fake accounts. During the hearing, the CJP remarked that no one would be spared if they were found guilty of money laundering. The FIA is investigating 32 people in relation to money laundering from fictitious accounts, including Asif Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur. Zardari’s close aide Hussain Lawai was arrested last month in connection with the probe. Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar remarked that the court would not support the FIA probe if the agency was accusing people wrongly. "If money laundering was proven then the court would not spare anyone," the chief justice warned. In his remarks to the FIA Director-General, CJP Nisar warned that if the agency registered a false case against anyone then the court would take action against it. – FIA submits report on money laundering in SC – Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) submitted report on money laundering in Supreme Court (SC). According to the report, 29 fake bank accounts opened in the Sindh Bank and United Bank and In the hearing of money laundering, the shocking revelations came on the surface. M/S Zardari Group (Asif Ali Zardari, Faryal Talpur, etc) got Rs15,000,000 and were among the beneficiaries of the transaction trail of fake bank accounts maintained by Omni Group, owned by Anwar Majeed, another close aide of the former president. The repor also stated that two of the primary accused are former president Asif Ali Zardari and his siter Faryal Talpur, who were summoned on more than one occasion but failed to appear before the investigation team. The CJP directed the department to provide complete information about the bank accounts’ owners. Furthermore, the top judge ordered Sindh inspector general to submit report in two days and adjourned the hearing till Monday.