Ijaz Haroon's physical remand extended till 9th

The Accountability Court hearing the multibillion rupees fake bank accounts case on Thursday extended physical remand of Ijaz Haroon, former managing director Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and chairman Overseas Cooperative Society (OCS), till December 9.

The officials of the NAB produced Haroon before Accountability Court's Duty Judge Azam Khan following expiry of his 10 days physical remand. The NAB officials requested the court to extend remand of suspect for another 14 days as they want to conduct further interrogation from him.

The NAB prosecutor said that Bureau investigators want to interrogate the accused with respect to some local and foreign currency bank accounts. Haroon had also been allegedly involved in preparation of fake documents, he said, adding that there is also an allegation of illegal allotments against the accused.

He further told the court that the accused has allegedly sold 12 fictitious plots of land to an equal number of fake allottees. The transactions of these plots were made through fake bank accounts, he said, adding that these 12 fake plots were allegedly used to launder Rs 144 million for Omni Group.

While objecting to the NAB's request, the defense counsel said that his client did not know that fake bank accounts were used for payment. He said that the NAB has made an offer again to his client to sign a plea bargain deal. "My client has not committed any wrongdoing and why should he sign the plea bargain deal"? he further said.