The apex court on 7th September constituted the JIT to conduct a thorough investigation into 'fake' bank accounts case that also involves former President Asif Ali Zardari. The JIT is headed by Additional Director General FIA, Ahsan Sadiq. The team also comprises Imran Latif Minhas, a commissioner at the Regional Tax Office, Islamabad; Majid Hussain, a joint director at the State Bank of Pakistan; Noman Aslam, a director at the National Accountability Bureau; Muhammad Afzal, a director at the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan; and Brigadier Shahid Pervez of the Inter-Services Intelligence.
The JIT on Saturday submitted report regarding freezing of Zardari and Omni Groups assets.
According to it, prima facie evidence brought to the record during the JIT investigation clearly indicates that Zardari and Omni Groups which started with a paid-up capital of Rs 600 (1981) and Rs 6,000 (2001) respectively amassed assets through misappropriation of loans, government funds, kickbacks and proceeds of crime.
The available evidence suggests that these groups have history of laundering their illegal proceeds abroad through Hundi / various channels of Hawala.
The report says that it would be pertinent to point out here that IBSC was identified to be a 'Benami' of Asif Ali Zardari held in the name of his then front man Iqbal Memon (International Builders) and was frozen in 1998. Iqbal Memon got exposed and left the country for Canada. However, that property changed hands in 2000 through AR Developers (Nasir Jamal) and ultimately came back again in 2008 to be held by Asif Ali Zardari, this time through M/s Park Lane Pvt Ltd.
Similarly, plots C5 & 6, Clifton, Karachi, were identified and frozen in 1998 (as per Ehtesab Commission report in Ehtesab Reference no. 26/1998) as 'Benami' of Asif Ali Zardari held in the name of M/s Galaxy Construction, owned by his then front man Saleem Akhter. This property has also again come back to be held by Asif Ali Zardari through M/s Galaxy Construction owned by his present front man Dr Dinshaw Hoshang Ankleseria.
The JIT in addition to freezing the assets has recommended that SECP may be directed not to change the ownership through the change of directors of any of the companies holding assets.
The report mentioned that there are 37 moveable and immoveable assets held by Zardari Group and its directors. It includes; Opal 225 Saddar Karachi, Bahria Icon Twin Tower, Clifton Karachi, IBSC Saddar Karachi, Tando Allah Yar Farms, Tando Allah Yar (Chamber Farms), Deh Nusrat Daur (Nawabshah) Farms, House F-4, Block-3, Clifton Karachi, House F-5, Block-3, Clifton Karachi, House F-3, Block-3, Clifton Karachi, House F-1, F-2, F-6 Block-3, Clifton Karachi, House F-5/1, Block-3, Clifton Karachi, House D-23, Block-3, Clifton Karachi, House D-25, Block-3, Clifton Karachi, House D-34, Block-3, Clifton Karachi, Bilawal House Lahore, 31-35 Acres land, Deh Safooran, Taluka airport, Malir Karachi, 7 acres of land, Deh Safooran, Gulistan-e-Johar, Karachi, 24 acres of land, Sector 31 & 47 of Scheme 33, KDA, House no. 8, Street 19, F-8/2 Islamabad, House D-75, Block-5, Clifton, Karachi, House no. 19, St 28, Phase V Ext, DHA Khayaban-e-Shamsher, Karachi, St 28 (public library), Clifton Block 1 Karachi, St 28/A (Mandir), Clifton Block 1, Karachi, ST 28/B (public gymnasium), Clifton Block 1, Karachi, 100 Nusrat, Daur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Shadiagham, Rattodero, Larkana, Shahdadkot, Kamber-Shahdadkot (Entry 26), Shahdadkot, Kamber-Shahdadkot (Entry 25), Nusrat, Nawabshah, Shaheed Benazir Abad (Entry 110), Real Estate held in Karachi and Sindh Interior in the name of Zardari Group/Park Lane/Mussawat News Pvt Ltd/Gold Field Cattle Farming Company Pvt Ltd or in the name of Al-Ain Holding/Pink Residency or Asif Ali Zardari/Faryal Talpur and Bilawal Zardari (directors/major shareholders of Zardari Group).
Vehicles owned by Zardari Group are; BMW 760 bulletproof (Reg No PF-442 Islamabad), BMW 760 bulletproof (Reg No. PH-442 Islamabad), Lexus 570 bulletproof (Reg No. NA-442 Islamabad), Mitsubishi bulletproof SUV (Reg No. ST-347 Islamabad), Mitsubishi Bullet Proof SUV (Reg No ST-348 Islamabad).
They also have bank accounts (including foreign currency accounts) held in Pakistan in the name of Zardari Group/Park Lane/Mussawat News Pvt Ltd/Gold Field Cattle Farming Company Pvt Ltd or in the name of Al-Ain Holding/Pink Residency or Asif Ali Zardari/Faryal Talpur and Bilawal Zardari (directors/major shareholders of Zardari Group), all international assets declared (revised wealth statements 2014-2016) or known to be held directly by Zardari family/Faryal Talpur or through their front men.
According to the report, the assets held by Omni Group and directors are; 16 sugar mills/companies (Bawany, Ansari, Khoski, Naudero, Tando Allah Yar, Chamber, Larr, New Thatta, Omni Summercoast, Omni, New Dadu, Southern, TMK, Bandhi, Sindhri, Vanguard) and real estate, agricultural lands, plants & equipment, vehicles and bank accounts (including foreign currency accounts) held by these companies.
Nineteen (19) power generation companies (Thatta, Ansari, Bawany, Naudero, Omni, Rohri, Shikarpur, TAY, Dadu, Platinum, Naudero, Nara, Nawab Shah, Wahaj, Triton, Quality Control, Bandhi, Sukkur Solar, Thatta Solar) and real estate, agricultural lands, plants & equipment, vehicles and bank accounts (including foreign currency accounts) held by these companies.
Nine agricultural farms/companies (Thatta, Dadu, Sajawal, Southern, Sindh Multi-Purpose, Omni, Badin, Energy Crops, Benazir Abad) and plants & equipment, vehicles and bank accounts (including foreign currency accounts) held by these farms/companies. Besides them many other properties are held in the name of the directors and the front men
The report says that Omni Group also has 51 companies and there are also 32 companies owned in the name of Omni Group employees or beneficially serving as front men for Omni Group companies.