Members of the joint investigation team (JIT) of the NAB probing the Arsalan Iftikhar-Malik Riaz case would leave for the UK and the UAE on Wednesday to collect relevant material and record statements of Ahmed Khalil and Salman Ahmed.
A source in NAB told APP on Monday that the team would meet Ahmed Khalil, a partner of Malik Riaz, and Salman Ahmed, the son-in-law of Malik Riaz who had allegedly facilitated Arsalan Iftikhar’s foreign visits and had also allegedly provided him money. “The scope of inquiry has broadened on the basis of evidence placed before the JIT by Malik Riaz who again appeared before the JIT and provided some important material,” said the source.
The source said upon returning, the JIT would again summon Arsalan Iftikhar who had earlier sought time from the NAB JIT for recording his statement.
The source said the JIT would also examine the case from a money laundering perspective. According to Section 20, the suspicious financial transactions fall within the domain of NAB and make it mandatory for the banks to report such transactions. The JIT has reasons to suspect that the transactions in the subject matter of the inquiry involve an international dimension necessitating probe into bank accounts in the UAE, the UK and offshore banking systems. The material and information received from various banks and financial institutions were evaluated by financial experts and reports on various financial trails were compiled. Meanwhile, an official handout said Malik Riaz appeared before the JIT of NAB on Monday and was questioned about the details submitted by him in response to the JIT’s questionnaire served on him during his last appearance.
Malik Riaz explained some commercial transactions involving huge amounts through which allegedly Arsalan Iftikhar obtained undue financial benefits from Malik Riaz and Bahria Town. The NAB would deeply examine these transactions now brought on record. Malik Riaz again sought further one week time for submitting documentary evidence to substantiate his contentions, added the statement.