The Supreme Court sought documents of pledged properties of Muhammad Hanif and Iqbal Khan Noori in the fake bank accounts case.
A two-judge bench comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Yahya Afridi heard the bail application.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had arrested accused Muhammad Hanif, manager M/S Park Lane Estates (Pvt) Ltd, and Muhammad Iqbal Khan Noori, director M/S Parthenon (Pvt) Ltd, in the fake bank accounts case.
Mohammad Hanif allegedly managed to obtain a Rs1.5 billion loan from the HBL and withdrew the proceeds in cash and got prepared pay orders in the name of fake persons to hide the beneficial owners.
On the other hand, Noori allegedly managed to obtain a Rs1.5 billion loan from the NBP and the Summit Bank, which was subsequently increased to more than Rs3.5 billion through "corruption and corrupt practices," thus obtained illegally pecuniary advantage for M/S Parthenon (Pvt) Ltd through "collusion, deceitful and dishonest means". The counsel for both the accused argued that former president Asif Ali Zardari and Abdul Ghani, the main accused in the scam, had been granted bails. The NAB prosecutor replied they were granted bails on medical grounds.
He said that further investigation was required. The accused lawyer contended that the pledge properties are still available and their value is more than the money borrowed.
He said the High Court did not consider the value of the property.
He said NAB accepts this fact that both were the employees of the company, "while the actual beneficiaries are Asif Ali Zardari and Hussain Lawai".
The NAB prosecutor stated that this case is of money laundering and not of returning of loan. The accused's counsel argued that National Bank and Summit Bank had filed civil suits against his clients for recovery of loan.
He said if the court allows then he will submit the documents of the pledged properties. The bench accepting his plea adjourned the case for 10 days.
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