ISLAMABAD: The NAB forensic report submitted to the accountability court in the assets case against former finance minister Ishaq Dar has proved that the signatures of President National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Saeed Ahmed had been forged.
According to a local media report, NAB’s allegations contradict its own forensic report that states that forged signatures had been used to access the bank accounts.
The forensic examination of the documents was submitted to the NAB Headquarters in 2017 by the NAB Deputy Director Muhammad Naseem.
Earlier, NAB Special Prosecutor Imran Shafeeq stated that Dar and Ahmed were working together in Hajveri Modaraba Management (Pvt) Ltd Company and suggested that Ahmed, along with the other co-accused might have assisted and abetted the accused in mounting illegal assets. It further alleged that seven bank accounts were opened in the name of Saeed Ahmad in the years 1997, 1998 and 1999 which were closed in 1999, 2000 and 2002 respectively.
The prosecutor claimed that millions of rupees were transacted into the foreign currency accounts, which were operated from 1997 to 2006.
It needs to be observed that the alleged fake accounts were opened in 1997 and 1998, at least two years after his end of directorship when Saeed was living abroad and was having no say or influence in the company as the director. Also, the NAB’s allegations are in contradiction with its own forensic report that says that signatures of applicant do not tally and forged signatures were used to open these bank accounts.
Saeed Ahmad expressed his ignorance of these bank accounts and their usage for transfer of amounts. According to his statement, he first came to know about these accounts through the media on April 16, 2016.
The NAB’s prosecutor concluded in the reference that the role of Saeed Ahmad can be safely termed illegal omission, which amounts to aiding and abetting the main accused of perpetuating ill-gotten wealth.
