Fake bank accounts scam: NAB summons Bilawal on 17th

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned Chairman Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on May 17 (Friday) in an ongoing probe of fake bank accounts scam with related to Park Lane Estate Pvt Ltd.

The Combined Investigation Team (CIT) of the NAB Rawalpindi headed by Director General NAB Rawalpindi Irfan Mangi probing the fake bank accounts scam and multi-billion money laundering scam has asked Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to appear on May 17 and to respond the queries of the investigation team. The company is believed to be owned by former president and President PPP Parliamentarians Asif Ali Zardari and has been allegedly involved in fake transactions through fake bank accounts.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari along with his father Asif Ali Zardari appeared before the CIT of NAB Rawalpindi On March 20 and was interrogated alleged purchase and demarcation of a land in Islamabad by Park Lane Estates (Pvt) Limited — of which Bilawal was a minor shareholder — as well as a loan allegedly obtained by the firm. Senator Mustafa Khokhar, spokesman to Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, said that Bilawal will appear before the NAB on May 17.

Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar while responding to NAB notice summoning Bilawal also disprove the reports that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had not responded to NAB's queries, saying that such reports were unfounded. He advised the media to uphold its reputation and report verified news instead of spreading fake news.

Accusing the NAB’s as an instrument of the government, Mustafa Nawaz Kokhar said the NAB was being used as revenge tool against the PPP leadership and was relying on media trials.

While in a related move, the CIT of the NAB Rawalpindi had also summoned former president Asif Ali Zardari again on May 16 in fake bank account scam with related to Harish and Company case. Previously Asif Ali Zardari was summoned on May 9 but he excuses himself from appearance before the NAB with seeking another date on the grounds that he was scheduled to appear before the Accountability Court on same day. It is to be mentioned the NAB has alleged that Harish and Company had taken a contract for water supply from the Special Initiative Department of Sindh government but no work was done on the project but these funds were used to meet the expenses of Naudero House.

The NAB sources said Harish and Company was the front company to Park Lane Estate which led to a loss of Rs60 million to the national exchequer.

In the meanwhile, so far the NAB has arrested 12 key man of former president Asif Ali Zardari in fake bank accounts scam that includes Muhammad Umair, Muhammad Arif Khan (Suspicious Transactions in the accounts of titled A One International, Summit Bank) Abdul Jabbar, Muhammad Shabbir (M/s Pink Residency), Sher Ali (HBL), Muhammad Farooque Abdullah (ex-area manager and branch manager HBL—M/s Parthenon Private Limited of M/s Park Lane Estate PVT Ltd), ex director land KDA Najam-uz-Zaman, ex-director special initiative department M/s Harish & Company Hassan Aly Memon, Muhammad Hanif (Accountant of M/s Park Lane Estate Pvt Ltd and company secretary of M/s Parthenon Pvt Ltd), Muhammad Saleem Faisal (General Manager M/s Tracom Pvt Ltd (front Company of M/s Parathenon Private Limited, M/S Park Lane Estate Pvt Ltd), Muhammad Iqbal Khan Noori (Director of M/s Parathenon Private Limited, M/S Park Lane Estate Pvt Ltd).