Dr Arsalan Iftikhar, Salman Ahmed (son-in-law of former chairman of Bahria Town Malik Riaz) and his business partner Ahmed Khalil on Monday excused themselves to appear before a Joint Investigation Team of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The five-member JIT is headed by NAB’s Financial Crime Wing Director General Kosar Iqbal Malik.
The NAB had issued notices to the Islamabad Inspector General Police (IGP) and the Punjab IGP to ensure the presence of the three men involved in the Dr Arsalan saga Monday at 11:00am sharp however all the three parties failed to show up.
Arsalan had excused appearing before the JIT because he had reservations with Attorney General Irfan Qadir and with the NAB investigation team.
Arsalan, in his earlier petition, had said that “The attorney general has misinterpreted the court’s verdict and the team formed by the NAB is illegal.”
According to NAB spokesperson, Salman Ahmed in a fax message sent from UK mentioned that he was receiving life threats and it was not possible for him to travel to Pakistan for this case. Salman Ahmed has however agreed to record his statement outside the country.
Ahmed Khalil in his letter has informed the JIT that he was undergoing medical treatment in a hospital in Germany.
In view of the absence, notice under section 19 has once again been issued for Arsalan Iftikhar to appear before JIT on 26-07-2012. Notice has also been issued to Dr Faqir Hussain, Registrar Supreme Court for personal appearance on 25-07-2012, the spokesperson said.
Riaz, the real estate tycoon, had already recorded his statement before the joint investigation team at NAB’s headquarters in which he had made a number of crucial disclosures.
NAB had also decided to contact authorities in Britain and the United Arab Emirates to obtain all related documents of the case, including payments made through credit cards.