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Pak envoy in US writes to NAB on alleged fraud

By Usman Manzoor
June 27, 2016

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Ambassador in the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani has expressed concerns with National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman regarding an alleged fraud done with Pakistani doctors in the US by their colleague who has now settled in Pakistan and built a big private hospital in Islamabad.

The ambassador had to jump in to write a letter after the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America approached the Pakistan Embassy in Washington and expressed apprehensions that the investigation might be influenced.

The NAB says that Dr Shaukat Bangesh, who allegedly defrauded his hundreds of fellow US doctors of Pakistani origin of billions of rupees in the name of investment and is being probed, has agreed in black and white to the NAB that he is willing to return the money to the complainants who have approached NAB.

In a letter written to Chairman NAB, the Pakistan Ambassador to US has written, “I would like to emphasize that such scams not only discourage expatriates Pakistanis from investing in Pakistan they also tarnish the image of Pakistan abroad and undermine Embassy’s efforts to engage overseas Pakistanis in National development. I understand that the Government is deliberating on an investment Package for overseas Pakistanis, which could be successful in achieving its objectives if overseas Pakistanis are assured of security of their investment and swift redressal of their complaints and concerns.” The Ambassador has further mentioned that the complainant has requested help in the subject case, which is under investigation by NAB. “He (complainant) has expressed apprehensions that Dr Bangesh may be trying to influence the investigation”, the letter to Chairman NAB says.  The Chairman NAB office told The News that a reply has been sent to Ambassador Jilani by the Chairman NAB updating him that the case is at the inquiry level and that the doctor has agreed to return Rs 390 million of the complainants.