ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday arrested Anwar Majeed, a close aide of former president Asif Ali Zardari and the head of Omni Group, from outside the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had summoned Anwar Majeed and his family to appear on August 13 but they had not appeared before the court.
The CJP had rejected Majeed family’s notice of absence, contemplated charging with contempt of court, and summoned them to appear in court at the earliest.
The court was hearing a case pertaining to money laundering through fake bank accounts when Anwar Majeed and his sons appeared before the courts.
His son Abdul Ghani Majeed was also arrested while three other sons Nimr, Kamal, and Zulqernain were placed on the Exit Control List (ECL).
The bench was informed that Anwar and Ghani’s names were already on the no-fly list,. The CJP directed to include the other family members as well stating that his sons will be cleared if they are involved in the case.
During the hearing, the bench also dismissed the petition of Omni Group counsel, Shahid Hamid, seeking pre-arrest bail for his clients.
As the hearing went under way, the CJP remarked that Majeed and his family can be taken into custody at the discretion of the FIA. Anwar Majeed and his sons are not required to be present in court for future hearings.
The Omni Group counsel informed the court that the names of Majeed and Ghani were already on the Exit Control List (ECL). Director-General FIA informed that court orders state that they should be barred from travelling abroad.
Majeed’s counsel then contended that he be given time to present his arguments in the case. However, the chief justice remarked that they will form a joint investigation team and all arguments can be made before it.
Justice Nisar also rejected Majeed’s plea to unfreeze his bank accounts. He directed the Majeed family to appear before the FIA like Zardari and and Faryal Talpur and include them in the investigations of fake bank accounts.
The hearing was then adjourned till August 28. Anwar Majeed was taken subsequently taken into custody outside the premises of the apex court.
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