FIA claims Javed Hashmi received Rs27m in his personal account

ISLAMABAD: An amount of Rs27 million was directly transferred to personal account of seasoned politician Javed Hashmi, revealed FIA progress report on Asghar Khan case.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) claimed that the said amount was sent to Mr Hashmi through Yousaf Memon who was allegedly assigned to distribute Rs70 million among those politicians who refused to receive payment directly from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), etc.

“Javed Hashmi in his statement had claimed that he did not take any money from ISI or any illegal source and the amount received in his [Hashmi’s] accounts (Rs2 crore 77 lacs)) in 1990-1991 in form of telegraphic transfers) were business transactions that he [Hashmi] had conducted with Yousaf Memon,” revealed the report where FIA investigators said they have analysed all the accounts used to bribe politicians. Mr Hashmi, who denied receiving any money from ISI, FIA claimed, is the only politician who received amount through his personal accounts and the investigators told this correspondent that Mr Hashmi could establish his business links with Yousaf Memon.

“In light of inquiry conducted so far, it is evident that, money was taken out of bank accounts illegally and is alleged to have been distributed among civil persons including politicians (while overwhelming share of illegally gotten wealth was siphoned off by Younis Habib and his associates),” revealed the report. The country’s top court in Nov 2012 ordered the FIA to initiate proceedings against the politicians who had allegedly been given a total of Rs140 million with the objective of blocking chances of Pakistan People's Party’s victory in the 1990 general elections.

“Inquiry can only be finalised once detailed statements/ record/receipts/mode of payments to civil persons including politicians is provided by General Durrani and General Beg,” revealed the FIA investigators. The report further revealed that it has come to record that Younis Habib, the then provincial chief of HBL has arranged the withdrawal of certain amounts from his fake ‘benami' bank accounts of Habib Bank Limited. Some facts, according to former HBL employee Younis Habib’s statement, come to light included an amount of Rs148 crore was taken from HBL as a loan, then Rs14 crore were given to ex-director general ISI Lt General (R) Asad Durrani, Rs7 crore to Jam Sadiq, Rs1.5 crore to Pir Pagara and Rs7 crore were paid to Yousaf Memon for politicians who would not receive payment from ISI, etc, added the report.

In further analysis of accounts, FIA found distribution of amount received by General Durrani as Rs1 crore to late ex-CM NWFP Mir Afzal, Rs35 lac to ex-PM Nawaz Sharif, Rs56 lac to Lt General (R) Rafaqat for media, Rs50 lac to JI, Rs10 lac to Abida Hussain, Rs5 lac to a media person, Rs33 lac to smaller groups of Punjab, Rs50 lac to late ex-PM Mustafa Jatoi, Rs50 lac to late ex-CM Sindh Jam Sadiq, Rs25 lac to late ex-PM Muhammad Khan Junejo, Rs20 lac to late Pir Pagara, Rs57 lac to smaller groups in Sindh, Rs15 lac to Humayun Marri, Rs40 lac to Jamali, Rs10 lac to Kakar, Rs5 lac Khalid Baloch, Rs7.5 lac to Jam Yousaf, Rs5 lac to Bizenjo and Rs10 lac to Nadeem Mengal.

The remaining Rs80 million were deposited in the ISI’ ‘K’ fund or given to Director External Intelligence for special operations, revealed the report that some 15 companies were used to embezzle money from different branches of HBL in Karachi from 1986 to 1990. General Durrani recovered Rs150.4 million from these companies. It is also stated that the accurate amount deposited in each account separately is not visible even the concerned bank did not provide the requisite record appropriately at this belated stage i.e. after about 28 years. However, the withdrawal of amount Rs141 million in cash during the period 1990 to 1991 from 15 accounts and its subsequent deposit in six accounts was very clear from the statements, revealed the report.

Report reveals that 15 companies used to embezzle money worth Rs150.4 million from HBL and given to former DG ISI General Durrani included: M/S Broadway Textiles (Rs10.4 million), M/S Worldwide Corporation (Rs20 million), M/S Interworld Business (Rs10 million), M/S Prefectural Enterprises (Rs10 million), M/S Power Packed Corporation (Rs20 million), M/S Presscrete Corporation (Rs10 million), M/S K Y Enterprises (Rs5 million), M/S Imperial Corporation (Rs5 million), M/S Tariq Brothers (Rs5 million), M/S A-1 Corporation (Rs5 million), M/S Ilyas Enterprises (Rs5 million), M/S Mehran Trading (Rs15.6 million), M/S Sico Enterprises (Rs5 million), M/S Shahid Traders (Rs15 million) and M/S Alam Traders (Rs9.3 million).

As many as 13 accused who have passed away, included: Former prime ministers Miraj Khalid, Mustafa Jatoi and Muhammad Khan Junejo, former chief minister Sindh Jam Sadiq, Pir Sahib Pagara, journalists, former ministers Hafiz Pirzada and Sarwar Cheema, ex-chief minister Balochistan Jam Yousaf and ex-CM NWFP Mir Afzal.