ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday said that the mobile phones of Omni Group Chairman Anwar Majeed’s family were confiscated in jail as the Supreme Court (SC) found audio recordings of the group issuing threats.
A three-judge bench headed by CJP Nisar heard a case regarding money laundering through fictitious bank accounts.
As the hearing went underway, Omni Group lawyer Shahid Hamid told the court, “A settlement between banks and Omni Group will be presented.” However, the counsel of the banks, Naeem Bukhari, said, “The theft of 2.5 million bags of sugar is a criminal act.”
At this, Justice Nisar remarked, “If this is a fraud then you should immediately contact the civil and criminal forums.”
The top judge further said, “It seems like all the procedure for the bank guarantee was documented. All those involved in the case will have a case registered against them. There will be an investigation conducted against those involved in the debt and guarantee,” adding that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will conduct the investigation on the court’s order.
However, Hamid said, “Omni Group is not a defaulter. The farmers are in trouble as the sugar mills have closed down.”
To this, the CJP said, “The court will take over the sugar mills and will not let anyone go into a loss.”
The bench added, “Omni Group was dishonest with the banks regarding the guarantee and the court wishes to conduct a criminal investigation against them.”
Justice Nisar further remarked, “Papers should be submitted. When the pact will need to happen it will happen. Omni Group only wants to gain time. If Omni Group wants to make a pact it should pay the bank Rs5 billion it owes.”
At this, the Omni Group lawyer asked the court to grant more time in order to submit a reply as they have to seek instructions from their client, Abdul Ghani Majeed, who is currently incarcerated in Adiala Jail.
Granting permission to Abdul Ghani Majeed and Hussain Lawai to meet their lawyers, the court stated, “The lawyers should meet them and inform the court.”
Following this Hamid petitioned the court to delay the hearing, on which Justice Nisar said, “We will sit till tonight not till tomorrow.”
THE CASE:
The case was initially registered in 2015 against former Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSE) chairman Hussain Lawai, who is widely believed to be close to former president Zardari.
In July, Lawai was arrested in connection with the probe along with Anwar Majeed, and his son, Abdul Ghani Majeed, were also arrested by the FIA. Lawai, Majeed and his son remain under custody for interrogation.
Investigations so far have revealed that several ‘benaami’ accounts at some private banks were opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015 from where transactions worth billions of rupees were made.
The amount, according to the FIA, is said to be black money gathered from various kickbacks, commissions and bribes.