NICL scam - PPP to avoid being part of any controversy with SC

By: Tariq Habib | Published: January 31, 2011

KARACHI - The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government has decided to avoid becoming a part of any controversy with the Supreme Court (SC) over the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam after a Federal Investigation Agency investigation linked a federal minister and officials of the Commerce Ministry to the case.
Sources told Pakistan Today that the government has given the green signal to the FIA officials to arrest FIA DG Waseem Ahmed and other influential personalities. A senior PPP leader said that the party’s leadership was worried about its leader, who is said to be involved in the scam.
“We don’t want any controversy with the honourable court and won’t support any culprit of the NICL scam. The FIA investigation will not be interfered with.” FIA sources said that some arrests would be made soon, as important information had been obtained. The FIA has already started investigating the agency’s DG while he is on a 10-day leave.
The SC had recently ordered removal of the DG after accusing him of mishandling the investigation of the Haj scandal. FIA Sindh DG Moazzam Jah Ansari said that the FIA has provided the names of the culprits to the government for necessary action, and also added their names to the exit control list.
“We have asked the authorities concerned for cancelling the passports of the scandal’s culprits, and the police will also be asked for their help,” he added.

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Amin Faheem also involved in NICL scam?

By: Tariq Habib | Published: January 30, 2011

KARACHI - Clues have been found that link not only some officials of the Federal Commerce Ministry, but its minister to the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam as well.

Sources in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) told Pakistan Today they have found clues suggesting that some bureaucrats and the minister, Amin Fahim might be involved in the high-profile case in which it was alleged that the NICL management had committed misappropriation of up to Rs 5.36 billion in purchase of properties in Lahore, Karachi and Dubai.
“Three senior officials of over grade 19 are found to be involved in the scam and they acquired a major chunk of the misappropriated money,” the sources claimed. The minister’s involvement surfaced when investigators linked the money to his bank account. “The entire sum that went missing out of the Rs 900 million made its way into the minister’s bank account in a private bank,” the sources claimed.
FIA investigators sounded helpless in pursuing the case effectively since they are under pressure from their high-ups. “We have been clearly told to remove the names of these officials and the minister from our final report, which will be sent as part of a summary to the Supreme Court,” they claimed. Meanwhile, a joint investigation team of the FIA comprising officials from Lahore and Karachi raided the house and office of Amin Qasim Dada and sealed both places.
“We have made no arrests nor found anything during the raids,” FIA sources said, adding that they have received information about Dada fleeing abroad via Afghanistan. “The record shows that he came to Pakistan on July 10, 2010 and did leave the country but we have contacted Interpol and are trying to issue a red warrant,” they added. The FIA has already placed Dada’s name on the exit control list while letters have been dispatched to the Passport and Immigration authorities in Islamabad for the cancellation of his passport.
The FIA has arrested two people - Naveed Hussain Zaidi and Gardaizi - while Jawaid Syed, Khawaja Akbar and Khalid Anwar are out of country. “Their red warrants will be issued soon,” the sources said. They added that the FIA Sindh DG had been asked to provide Waseem Ahmed’s arrival and departure records in Karachi after his appointment as FIA DG and the distance between the residences of Ahmed and Dada.
It may recalled that the FIA had filed a case in which they claimed that a man, identified as Khalid Anwar, was given power of attorney for 20 acres of land owned by the Hashwani group some time back. The FIA accused Anwar, who is both a Pakistan and an American citizen, of selling 10 acres of this land to the NICL in August 2009 before he managed to leave for the United States.
According to the FIA, Anwar sold each acre for Rs 90 million, which is twice the actual value of the land as each acre actually costs around Rs 45 million, resulting in a loss of Rs 450 million to the national exchequer.

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Interpol asked to issue warrants for ‘corrupt’ Pakistanis

By: Tariq Habib | Published: January 28, 2011

KARACHI - Interpol has been requested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for the issuance of arrest warrants against “all corrupt elements” who have escaped the country in the past for trial before a Pakistani court of law, claimed the Agency’s Sindh Director Muazzam Jah at a press conference on Thursday.
Jah demanded that the Pakistan Steel Mills provide the FIA with names of all those involved in the corruption case of Rs 22 billion. He said that although the FIA arrested the National Insurance Corporation (NICL) Chairman Ayaz Niazi and six others, another accused, Ameen Qasim Dada, was still at large but had not fled the country.
FIA is the complainant in all 10 cases of embezzlement in Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), but despite clear instructions from the National Assembly’s standing committee, the PSM has not initiated an inquiry in this regard.
As many as 15 accused persons have been arrested in the PSM corruption case, while a probe is being conducted to recover Rs 26 billion, the DG said, adding that the FIA have recovered Rs 50 million from Abbas Akbar Ali, director of Amrely Steel Mills.
Jah said that the FIA has found embezzlement of Rs 12 billion in the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP); former TC chairman Muhammad Malik and some directors of the corporation have been arrested in this regard.

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Sindh Assembly building escapes terror attack?

KARACHI - Police foiled a possible terror attack attempt on the Sindh Assembly building when they arrested three suspects having close links to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

FROM KARACHI TO KABUL: UNSAFE HIGHWAYS

By: Tariq Habib | Published: January 15, 2011



KARACHI - Declaring the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) supply route from Karachi to Kabul for the allied forces in Afghanistan unsafe, the federal government has asked the home departments of Sindh and Balochistan to adopt a foolproof security plan for the itinerary, sources in the Sindh Home Department told Pakistan Today.They said that the NATO supply route is under attack by unidentified suspects, whereas goods transporters are being uncooperative with the Pakistani government and blackmailing it, posing a serious threat to NATO forces in Afghanistan.The government’s strategies in this regard are seemingly fruitless, and after the attacks on the 1,089-kilometre long itinerary, the authorities have declared the route unsafe.The Pakistani Interior Ministry has sent a letter to the Sindh and Balochistan home departments asking them to take strict measures to protect the route. The letter said that any interruption in supply of goods could result in the failure of the NATO forces in Afghanistan.A single armoured vehicle of the armed forces consumes around 29 gallons of oil daily. Ninety percent of daily-use items and petroleum products to over 60,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan are supplied through the Karachi Port via Chaman.This transport business involves four companies and more than 3,000 tankers to ship fuel tankers to Afghanistan. The Al-Haj Group has engaged 1,000 of its tankers to ship fuel to Kabul; the Mengal Brothers 1,500; Spinners 500; and Bilal Company 50.Between 100 and 150 truckloads of foodstuffs and oil travel through this supply route every day from Karachi to Afghanistan where 12,000 NATO troops are stationed. Delay in supplying the goods from Pakistan could cause the NATO forces severe losses.Sources claimed that this crucial itinerary always runs into problems when transporters use different methods for pressurising the government into meeting their demands.

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NADRA officials assisting agents involved in forgery ?

By: Tariq Habib | Published: January 14, 2011

 



KARACHI - Criminal elements have gained inside access to the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) and use it to make fake national identity cards, it has been learnt.Sources in NADRA told Pakistan Today that a few staff members were in contact with agents involved in the business of forged identity cards, who charge huge amounts for making fake computerised national identity cards (CNICs).Dozens of applications have been submitted at NADRA for inquiry against counterfeit identity cards, but officials are not willing to help in the investigation being carried out by police to combat persons involved in such business.Recently, a person by the name of Asif Zia got himself fake ID card No 42301-8587677-1, showing Zia Ahmed Khan as his father and using his house address. However, there was no record in the computer data of NADRA.When Pakistan Today contacted Khan, the Honorary Consulate General of Republic of Equatorial Guinea, he said he did not know Zia.“I was shocked to know that he has shown me as his father and also used my address as his own home address,” he added.Khan said he had submitted an application in this regard to NADRA General Manager Col (r) Ahsan on 6th May 2010, requesting the fake CNIC be cancelled immediately and an inquiry ordered to get hold of the culprits involved in such forgery. An FIR has also been lodged at the police station, he added.NADRA Deputy General Manager Col (r) Aqeel, while talking to Pakistan Today, said that an application was received from Khan and investigation were underway.NADRA Deputy Chairman Tariq Malik said that application of Khan was sent to the department concerned and the fake ID card would be cancelled after an inquiry.The Gizri SIO told Pakistan Today that the police was facing hurdles due to non-cooperation of NADRA officials. “We sent a letter to NADRA through the SP Investigations for details on forged ID cards but the management did not reply”, he said, adding that a reminder was also sent to NADRA on May 25, 2010.Sources alleged that more that 15,000 fake ID cards have been issued, as staff members themselves are involved in this business.I was shocked to know that he has shown me as his father and also used my address as his own home address.

 

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Red tape at police stations – Karachiites shy from reporting crime

KARACHI - Despite the increasing crime rate in Karachi, the city police are not lodging first information reports (FIRs) and people affected by street crimes are also reluctant to register cases due to the indifferent behaviour of the law enforcers.

Punjab governor’s murder - 2,000 guards of Sindh VVIPs sent back to head offices

By: Tariq Habib | Published: January 06, 2011

 


KARACHI - Over 2,000 security personnel deployed with VVIPs of Sindh have been sent back to their head offices, while the personal details of more than 1,000 personnel of law enforcement agencies will be sent to intelligence agencies for vetting, Pakistan Today has learnt.According to the data of the Home Department, important personalities of Sindh enjoy the security of more than 8,000 police personnel and 4,000 personnel of other intelligence agencies. The assassination of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer struck a (security) chord among VVIPs of Sindh, however, and they have requested authorities to screen the personal details of all security guards.The Home Department in turn has decided to compile a list of law enforcement agencies’ personnel who have been affiliated with a religious party in the past.A list of more than 1,013 law enforcers has been prepared by the Home Department, and this will now be sent to different intelligence agencies for screening purposes. “The personnel of police, special police and intelligence agencies will follow the screening process,” sources claimed. “No action will be taken against them, but they would not be permitted on security duty for any VVIP.”Sources said that during the last 24 hours, some security guards from the Bilawal House, Sindh Assembly and some other buildings frequented by VIPs have been redeployed elsewhere. “Some ministers and other VIPs have also requested the Home Department to screen their guards’ data,” the sources said.Many important figures of Sindh have decided to trust and rely only on their private guards, but a few guards of law enforcement agencies will stay with them for emergency and backup purposes.“Some unexpected decisions regarding VVIPs’ security might be taken in the near future by the government,” the sources revealed.

 

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ISI chief pays surprise visit to Karachi, meets Zardari twice

By: Tariq Habib | Published: January 05, 2011

 



KARACHI - Political parties have taken a U-turn after chief of the premier intelligence agency met with President Asif Ali Zardari, sources told Pakistan Today.The political situation of the country suddenly changed after a surprise visit of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief to Karachi on Saturday night. Upon his arrival in the city, the ISI chief met twice with the president. “Had there been any scheduled high-profile visit, security agencies would have been informed about it. Since no high-profile visit of the ISI chief was scheduled for Karachi, this was a surprise visit,” sources said.They claimed that after the controversial role of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in the politics of the country, intelligence agencies responsible for protecting national interests had to interfere in the country’s affairs. The ISI chief visited Karachi by his private plane and met Zardari. He also attended a high-level meeting at the local office of the intelligence agency.Following that meeting, the ISI chief met with Zardari again that night. On Sunday, the political situation took a U-turn and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) dealt with the MQM strictly. The PPP refused to accept MQM’s demands, compelling the MQM to move to the opposition benches. Earlier, controversies between the PPP and the MQM were apparently approaching their end, and Interior Minister Rehman Malik was playing an important role in this regard.“Some changes were being made by the PPP in the Sindh Cabinet just to fulfil the demands of the MQM,” sources claimed. Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza, Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza and two departments were going to go through some changes. However, after meeting with the ISI chief, Zardari took a strict stance and refused to accept any demand of the MQM.A PPP leader told Pakistan Today on condition of anonymity that the party’s leaders and activists had made their agitation known to the president.“PPP leaders were considering MQM’s demands as blackmailing tactics and wanted to strongly resist them,” he added. Sources said the MQM was continuously changing its demands and strictly criticising PPP members in the Sindh Cabinet.“There is no threat to the PPP government,” they added.

 

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