–TV channel claims Younas Kudwavi’s dual nationality is hindering his arrest, extradition in fake accounts case
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has reportedly recovered property worth Rs600 million from an alleged business partner of former president Asif Ali Zardari, making it the first such recovery in the multi-billion rupees fake accounts case, a private news channel reported on Wednesday.
According to the TV channel’s report, Younas Kudwavi is believed to be a business partner of Zardari in Parklane Estates.
NAB has also presented its interim challan before the accountability court – approved earlier by its executive board. Kudwavi is among eight nominated in the case.
Kudwavi is facing the charge of issuing illegal allotment letter on properties registered for a temple and library.
According to the channel’s report, Kudwavi has moved from the UAE following the arrest of Omni Group CFO Arif Khan by Interpol.
Kudwavi who holds Canadian citizenship had been living in the UAE since the fake accounts case emerged 14 months ago.
According to the report, Kudwai moved to Britain three months ago and then left for Canada. NAB officials say his dual nationality is a major impediment in Kudwavi’s immediate arrest and extradition.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is investing 32 people, including Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur, Omni Group Chairman Anwar Majeed, in relation to money laundering through fictitious bank accounts.
Zardari’s close aide and former chairman of the Pakistan Stock Exchange, Hussain Lawai was arrested in July last year in connection with the probe. The former president’s other close aide Anwar Majeed and his son, Abdul Ghani, were arrested by FIA in August 2018.
The Supreme Court in September 2018 had taken notice and constituted a joint investigation team to probe the matter. The JIT had filed its report and also recommended a directive for NAB to conduct a thorough inquiry.
In January 2019, the Supreme Court had referred the JIT report to NAB to launch its probe and complete it within two months.
On March 15, a banking court in Karachi approved the NAB chairman’s petition and transferred the money laundering case to an accountability court in Islamabad for trial.
