The Supreme Court on Tuesday again ordered National Accountability Bureau to arrest Mohsin Habib Warraich, main character in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) financial scam. A three-member bench, headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, heard the case and directed National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to arrest Mohsin and submit a report. Warraich's 'accomplice', Moonis Elahi, has been acquitted in this case, while former federal minister Makhdoom Ameen Faheem has passed away.
Former CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had taken suo motu notice of the NICL scam. In his judgement passed in November 2013, it had been noted that the appointment of Ayaz Khan Niazi as NICL chairman was contrary to Section 12 of the Insurance Ordinance, 2000 and rules framed thereunder, as non-transparent, illegal and unwarranted.
More than Rs 6 billion NICL scam surfaced in 2009-10 when Warraich's company, Messrs Privilege, purchased 803 kanals of land from the NICL in Lahore for Rs 1.68 billion. The NICL sold the land measuring 20 kanals along Lahore Airport Road to Mohsin Warraich for Rs 1.7 billion. It sold the land at the rate of Rs 5.3 million per kanal although its market value was much higher.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan said Warriach is main character in this scam and questioned why he could not be arrested so far. Answering a question, the NAB Special Prosecutor General (SPG) informed the court that Warraich is in Pakistan. Justice Azmat remarked that the accused is in Pakistan but he could not be arrested.
The prosecutor further stated that according to reports, Warraich has not left Pakistan through any of the international airports; therefore, it could be stated that he is in country. Justice Azmat asked the SPG that the information is based on surmises. He ordered him to arrest Warriach and submit a report on the next date of hearing. The case was adjourned for an indefinite time.
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