JIT sends tough questionnaire to PPP chairman
‘We have received a questionnaire from the Joint Investigation Team, which is conducting probe into fake accounts case. We would respond to it. Questions would be responded in details,’ says Bilawal’s lawyer
ISLAMABAD: A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has sent a tough questionnaire to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as part of its probe into the fake bank accounts involving billions of rupees.
The investigators asked the young politician how his company M/s Zardari Group Pvt Ltd remained a beneiciary of billions of rupees stashed into a dozen of fake accounts.
The investigation continues to spring unbelievable surprises where more than 620 individuals, who have a direct or indirect link with more than 300 fake accounts, have allegedly accumulated wealth worth around Rs110 billion (Dh1=rs37), oficials associated with the investigation process revealed, according to a report.
“We have received a questionnaire from the JIT. We would respond to it,” conirmed Farooq H Naek, lawyer for Bilawal in fake accounts case. “Questions would be responded in details.”
The JIT questionnaire is based on its proceedings which revealed that the PPP chairman in capacity of director of M/s Zardari Group Pvt Ltd is acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the matter and possess information/ evidence which relates to the subject case/inquiry.
The JIT on Nov.22 served a notice on Bilawal where he was asked to appear before the JIT on Nov.28. The JIT, headed by senior police oficer Ehsan Sadiq, also summoned former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur in the same case and both recorded their statement on Nov.28.
The JIT has asked Bilawal about nature of his business partnership with his father. The investigators have also asked about transactions made by M/s Zardari Group Pvt Ltd through a few fake accounts associated with Omni Group and other over a half dozen entities and individuals.
The JIT asked about payment of Rs4.14 million on June 29, 2015 from a fake account owned by M/s Logistic Trading for food supplies to Bilawal House by M/s “The Deli” restaurant. This account was maintained in a private bank in Karachi.
Investigators also asked the PPP chairman about fake accounts maintained through M/s Umair Associates, M/s Ocean Enterprises and M/s Dream Trading and Company. These accounts carried more than 34 transactions worth around Rs130 million, an oficial revealed.