Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has ordered a comprehensive probe into an allegation levelled by FIA Director General Waseem Ahmad that leadingforeign exchange dealers Munaf Kalia and Javed Khanani, who had been arrested in a money-laundering case, had bought their release from a lower court. “It is fairly serious allegation apparently levelled against the presiding officer of the Banking Court Karachi which decided the case,” the chief justice said on Monday while taking notice of the allegation and asked Sindh High Court Chief Justice Amir Hani Muslim to appoint a senior high court judge and ascertain the veracity of the claim.
The FIA chief, who has invited the Supreme Court’s ire over his alleged mishandling of the Haj scandal, had said at a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior last week that although the judiciary was independent, the owners of Khanani and Kalia Foreign Exchange Company had spent a huge amount of money to get themselves released although his agency had presented enough evidence in the court.
The Federal Investigation Agency arrested Munaf Kalia and Javed Khanani on Nov 7, 2008, for their role in illegal transfer of billions of dollars outside Pakistan over the past five years. A court in Karachi acquitted the accused for want of evidence.
“Although the allegation is of general nature and does not specify who and at what level the alleged corruption took place, apparently it relates to investigation, prosecution, the Banking Court, etc, and requires probe into the matter,” the
chief justice said.
The SHC chief justice is required to submit a comprehensive report to the Supreme Court in seven days for further action if needed.
“The inquiry (into the allegations) be conducted without prejudice to the claims of accused and prosecution as to the merits of the case,” the chief justice observed.
The standing committee had expressed resentment over the delay in completion of the FIA inquiry into the money-laundering scam and also expressed surprise over the release of the accused.
Mr Waseem Ahmad alleged that during their detention the accused had received VIP protocol and they stayed most of the time in hospital, instead of jail.
The Federal Investigation Agency arrested Munaf Kalia and Javed Khanani on Nov 7, 2008, for their role in illegal transfer of billions of dollars outside Pakistan over the past five years. A court in Karachi acquitted the accused for want of evidence.
“Although the allegation is of general nature and does not specify who and at what level the alleged corruption took place, apparently it relates to investigation, prosecution, the Banking Court, etc, and requires probe into the matter,” the
chief justice said.
The SHC chief justice is required to submit a comprehensive report to the Supreme Court in seven days for further action if needed.
“The inquiry (into the allegations) be conducted without prejudice to the claims of accused and prosecution as to the merits of the case,” the chief justice observed.
The standing committee had expressed resentment over the delay in completion of the FIA inquiry into the money-laundering scam and also expressed surprise over the release of the accused.
Mr Waseem Ahmad alleged that during their detention the accused had received VIP protocol and they stayed most of the time in hospital, instead of jail.
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