Fake accounts case: CJP suggests arresting Anwar Majeed’s son Nimr

ISLAMABAD: The chief justice on Monday hinted at having Omni Group chairman Anwar Majeed’s son Nimr arrested once again, as a three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by him resumed hearing a case against fake bank accounts that were used to launder over Rs100 billion out of the country.

Additional Attorney General Nayyar Rizvi informed the court that the joint investigation team (JIT) tasked to probe the alleged money laundering had submitted a progress report on Omni Group’s bank accounts.

The director general of the Federal Investigation Agency told the court that the JIT was continuing its probe into the matter.

Expressing his satisfaction over the JIT’s progress, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar remarked that he realised the JIT’s task was not easy but at the same time, the court could not adjourn the case hearing for an indefinite time.

The head of the JIT asked the court for a month to submit its final report in the investigation.

In his remarks, the chief justice observed that the securities loaned out to different banks were no longer present in the banks. At the same time, he hinted that Nimr Majeed, the son of Omni Group chairman Anwar Majeed, be arrested and included in the investigation.

Where did Omni Group’s securities disappear, the top judge asked Nimr. To this, Nimr replied that he was not aware of the matter, as he looked after the sugar mills only.

“Take Nimr [Majeed] into custody, and transfer Anwar Majeed to Adiala Jail, he [Anwar Majeed] is dictating all of Sindh via his phone,” Justice Nisar suggested.

Nimr Majeed was arrested by the FIA last month, but was released a day later on the court’s orders.

The top judge remarked that the court would summon representatives from the concerned banks to understand the situation better.

“We will end the case if the public’s money is returned to them,” Justice Nisar observed.

Omni Group owes debts of Rs13.5 billion: FIA report 

The FIA submitted its report to the Supreme Court on alleged disappearance of sugar from mills owned by the Omni Group. 

In its report, the agency stated that the Omni Group owed a total debt of Rs13.5 billion, of which the banks' losses made up Rs11.5 billion. 

The report further revealed that of the sugar stocks mortgaged against bank loans, 6,692,946 bags of sugar were missing from the mills.

The JIT had seized the records of the sugar mills and was analysing the details, the report stated. 

Two witnesses kidnapped, court told

The Supreme Court was informed during today's hearing that two witnesses who appeared before the JIT in connection to the fake accounts case have been kidnapped.

A lawyer representing the witnesses in question told the court that they were kidnapped by 'unknown persons'. He prayed the court to instruct the police to recover the missing witnesses. 

Hearing this, Chief Justice Nisar issued notice to Inspector General Sindh Police to appear before the bench so that it could be determined whether the witnesses were kidnapped or went missing of their own accord.