Fake accounts case: Govt issues ECL list consisting of bigwigs

The government issued on Friday the list of people whose names have been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) over their alleged involvement in money laundering.

The list includes 172 names of those people who have been accused in a case pertaining to money laundering through fake accounts case. The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has revealed in its latest report names of 172 people allegedly involved in money laundering.

Former President Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto are among those place on the ECL. The list also includes Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) former chairman Hussain Lawai, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, former Sindh CM Qaim Ali Shah, former home minister Sohail Anwar Siyal along with several other renowned persons.

The federal cabinet had decided during a meeting on Thursday to place the names of all people whose names had turned up during JIT’s investigation. Speaking to the media, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry later on announced that the government has decided to place the names on ECL of suspects in the case.

“This is not ‘purana’ [old] Pakistan where the two big [players] make a deal. Now, each and every penny will be accounted for,” the information minister said.