The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Commerce was informed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Thursday that during investigations into the NICL scam the agency had traced the transfer of Rs 24.4 million to a bank account in the name of Federal Commerce Minister Amin Fahim.
The committee meeting was held under the chairmanship of PML-N MNA Khurram Dastagir Khan. FIA Karachi Deputy Director Altaf Hussain informed the committee that the NICL purchased a 10-acre plot of land in Deh Phiai Korangi Township, owned by Khalid Anwar at a price of Rs 981 million on August 19, 2009. He said Anwar struck the deal through Khawaja Akbar who was Ayaz Niazi’s front man.
The NICL purchased the land from Anwar at above-market rates and NESPAK calculated that Rs 487.4 million were paid over and above the market rates, including Rs 300 million in kickbacks. The amount was divided between 19 people, of which Rs 24.4 million was transferred to a joint account in the names of Jaleeluzzaman and Fahim. Hussain said they contacted the minister about the transaction but he had no information and sought time to reply.
The committee was informed that Rs 320 million were transferred to two accounts of Moonis Elahi, in the name of his two men. The committee asked why Moonis was being detained in a rest house. The FIA representative replied that the Ministry of Interior had told FIA that Moonis’ life was in danger. The committee asked the Interior secretary to submit a reply about the kind of threat Moonis was facing.
