Non-bailable arrest warrants for Gilani, Fahim issued again

KARACHI: The Federal Anti-Corruption Court (FACC) on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrants of five accused including former PM Yusuf Raza Gilani and former commerce minister Makhdomm Amin Fahim in seven cases concerning the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) scam.

The court headed by Muhammad Azeem has now issued non-bailable warrants of arrest in seven cases filed by FIA against Yusuf Raza Gilani, Amin Fahim and former secretary to the prime minister’s house, Zubair. In these cases, the FIA submitted seven charge sheets and showing the three accused as absconders.

Consequently, the court issued non-bailable warrants of arrest against the three accused involved in the TDAP scam. Earlier, on May 29 an anti corruption court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Gilani and Fahim.

In these cases, the two PPP leaders were accused of misappropriation of huge funds and the apex court of the country had also taken notice of alleged plundering of national exchequer under one pretext or the other by the accused.

A bench headed by the then Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had heard the corruption cases relating to different departments and had directed the FIA to investigate, report and lodge cases.

The cases that were lodged after investigation were now being heard by the FACC that had earlier given Amin Fahim an exemption from appearance in the court and at times it had directed the defence counsel to ensure the appearance of his client at the next hearing.

In some of the cases, the trial court had declared to frame charges against the accused, but due to non-appearance of some of the accused, including Amin Fahim, it could not happen. The court now has issued non-bailable arrest warrants against the two accused along with other absconding accused.

The investigators have been made bound to ensure arrest of the accused and their production before the court on June 17 when the court would sit again to hear these seven cases.The FACC has ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to produce all the accused before the court by June 17.

Earlier the FIA had declared Yusuf Raza Gilani and Makhdomm Amin Fahim as fugitives in cases linked to TDAP scam and the court ultimately had to pass the above orders as part of legal proceedings.

The FIA mentioned in its charge sheet that former TDAP chairman Tariq Iqbalpuri, former director general Javed Anwar, Abdul Karim Daud and former project manager Mirchumal Khatri had already been arrested and recorded their statement while Gilani and Amin Fahim’s names were included in the light of the statements recorded by the detained accused. In these cases the warrants against the two PPP leaders have been issued by two courts (in Karachi and in Islamabad). Seven other accused have also been declared as absconding and non-bailable warrants of arrest were issued against these accused as well.The court had previously issued notices (three times) to Yusuf Raza Gilani and Makhdoon Amin Fahim, directing them to appear before it.

Court issues non-bailable arrest warrants for Gilani, Fahim

KARACHI: Federal Anti-Corruption Court has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and former minister for commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Geo News reported on Monday.

The court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Gilani and Fahim after Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) declared both Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders fugitive in seven Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) cases.

The cases are related to the approval and disbursement of fraudulent trade subsidies by Gilani, Fahim and officials of the TDAP.

Three days back, the anti-corruption court had also issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Gilani and Amin Faheem.

The warrants against the two were issued in a case relating to financial irregularities in the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).

The case in this regard had been registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) when Amin Fahim was Commerce Minister.

Gilani and Fahim had been accused of involvement in Rs7 billion financial scam in TDAP. Muhammad Firdous, the key accused, turned approver against the former prime minister and former federal minister.

The court had previously issued three notices to Gilani and Fahim, requiring them to appear before it. The notices were ignored after which bailable arrest warrants were issued against both the leaders. On Thursday, however, the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants and adjourned the hearing till June 17.

Non-bailable arrest warrants for Gilani, Faheem issued

KARACHI: An anti-corruption court in Karachi on Thursday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and senior Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Makhdoom Amin Faheem.

The warrants against the two were issued in a case relating to financial irregularities in the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). Subsequently, the court adjourned the hearing till June 17.

The case in this regard had been registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) when Amin Faheem was Commerce Minister.Gilani and Fahim had been accused of involvement in Rs7 billion financial scam in TDAP. Muhammad Firdous, the key accused, turned approver against the former prime minister and former federal minister.

The court had previously issued three notices to Gilani and Faheem, requiring them to appear before it. The notices were ignored after which bailable arrest warrants were issued against both the leaders. On Thursday, however, the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants and adjourned the hearing till June 17.

Meanwhile, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that he would appear in the Accountability Court, Islamabad on June 4 and also ATC court in Karachi in TDAP case adding he had been facing fabricated cases in the past and would face these now as well.

In a statement issued here Gilani said that he was only one who had received the notices to appear in the court adding that he was determined to defend himself as he had done in the past.

He said if the competent appointing authority was to be held responsible, no one could be spared if the intentions were motivated by vendetta.He advised the Ministry of Interior and the present government to bring out all the cases against him and his sons in order to avoid the implications of double jeopardy.

He lamented that no case in this country was completed without implicating him whether it was case of Ogra, NICL, NRO, TDAP or Haj scam. The beneficiaries of the NRO had been exonerated but he was still facing the music. “These are classic examples of miscarriage of justice,” he said.

He said that his sons had been implicated in false cases while his other son was kidnapped and they knew the amount of torture his family was going through.He asked the government to avoid crossing the limits of victimisation and unleash it to the extent they could also bear it tomorrow. They had no stomach to tolerate even the fraction of what was going on against him, he observed.

Non-bailable arrest warrants for Gilani, Fahim issued

KARACHI: Federal Anti-Corruption Court on Thursday issued arrest non-bailable warrants for former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and former minister for commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Geo News reported.

The Federal Anti-Corruption Court no. 01 Judge, Muhammad Azeem issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Gilani and Fahim over irregularities in Trade Development Authority (TDA)

Former staff officer of Amin Fahim, Farhan Junejo, Imran Qadir and ex-deputy secretary PM House Zubair Ahmed are fugitive in the case.

The case 27/2013 was registered by FIA Crime Circle against the accused.

Aitzaz Ahsan wants Taliban to release Gilani, Taseer sons

LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader, Aitzaz Ahsan Monday called upon the Taliban militants to set free the abducted sons of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Punjab governor Salman Taseer.

“I don’t think the ongoing negotiations with the Taliban will yield a positive result,” he said during his interaction with the media persons here.

He said the Taliban should also release the non-combatants.

Aitzaz Ahsan said the Election Commission had reopened record of one Punjab constituency, NA-124 which revealed that one of the bags did not carry the official seal, exposing the transparency of the general elections.

 

Khursheed seeks release of sons of Gilani, Taseer

SUKKUR: Leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah has said that if Ali Haider Gilani and Shahbaz Taseer were not released after negotiations with the Taliban, then no one will recognise the peace talks.

He stated this while talking to the media here at the Sukkur airport on Saturday.

Shah said that he had written a letter to Shahbaz Sharif regarding the threat letter sent to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

He demanded of the Punjab government to investigate the matter.

He said that the PPP never opposed talks with the Taliban but had asked the PM not to confuse the nation with his unclear policy.

He clarified that there is no reality in the media reports pertaining to the removal of CM Qaim Ali Shah.

Gilani, Raja granted exemptions in OGRA corruption case

ISLAMABAD: The Accountability Court has granted exemptions from appearance in the court in OGRA corruption case to former prime ministers Yusuf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Friday here, Geo News reported.

Islamabad Accountability Court Judge Mohammad Bashir was hearing the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) corruption case here.

During the hearing, Amjad Iqbal Quraishi Advocate appeared on behalf of the former prime ministers Yusuf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf besides the main accused in the case Tauqir Sadiq was also present, while the court expressed its annoyance over non-appearance of other accused in the case.

The court accepting the pleas of both the former prime ministers seeking exemptions from appearance adjourned the hearing until April 9.

Taliban refuse to release abducted sons of Gilani, Taseer

ISLAMABAD: The Taliban have refused to release the abducted sons of Late Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
 

However, the Taliban told the government’s committee that they are ready to release Professor Ajmal with a condition that the government would release their two men.

The Taliban claimed the Sindh government is committing atrocities against their prisoners.

Over release of two Taliban men, the government committee told the Taliban Shura that it would respond to the offer after talking to the Sindh government.

The government committee further said that issues relating to the release of non-combatants prisoners should be dealt separately.

Talks Progressing: Professor Ibrahim

Taliban peace committee member Professor Ibrahim has said that negotiations between the government and the Taliban are progressing in a positive way.

Exclusively talking to Geo News, Professor Ibrahim said the process of confidence building has begun, adding that they wanted to settle all issues amicably.