Fake accounts case: SC constitutes medical team to examine Anwar Majeed, son

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the constitution of a medical team to examine Omni Group’s Anwar Majeed and his son, Express News reported.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar ordered the formation of the team, led by Surgeon General of Pakistan Lt Gen Zahid Hameed, after hearing an application filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Anwar, his son Abdul Ghani, former president Asif Ali Zardari, sister Faryal Talpur, former Pakistan Stock Exchange chairman Hussain Lawai and Summit Bank Senior Vice-President Taha Raza are among those being investigated by the FIA for allegedly facilitating 29 ‘fake’ accounts in Summit Bank, Sindh Bank and United Bank Limited. In July, the top court had taken a suo motu notice of the alleged money laundering.

During the hearing, the investigating officer (IO) cited the complainant’s failure to become part of the inquiry for the delay in the investigation. The top judge also directed FIA to complete the investigation by the next hearing.

Addressing the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre’s (JPMC) Dr Seemi Jamali, Justice Nisar inquired why she was unable to diagnose Anwar, to which the Sindh advocate general replied that Anwar had been hospitalised since August 27.

Meanwhile, Omni group’s counsel objected to the medical check-up being “moved to Punjab”.

“Medical board cannot be formed without concrete reasons,” said Ayesha Hamid. To which, Justice Bandial remarked that the top court had no choice since the Sindh government was uncooperative.

Following the arguments, the bench ordered the medical team to present their report and adjourned hearing until September 24 and Court extends Abdul Majeed’s physical remand.

Case history

The FIA had taken Majeed into custody on August 15 from outside the Supreme Court after he appeared before a three-judge bench hearing the suo motu case pertaining to alleged money laundering of Rs35 billion through fake accounts. Subsequently, the names of four of his family members were placed on the Exit Control List on the apex court’s order.

According to the FIR; billions of rupees were deposited into fake accounts and subsequently transferred to beneficiaries, including a company owned by Zardari and his sister: the Zardari Group. The Zardari Group received Rs15 million of the laundered money.

Source: Express Tribune