Fake accounts case: AC issues arrest warrants for Ghani Majeed

The accountability court on Monday issued arrest warrants of Abdul Ghani Majeed, one of the main accused in the fake bank accounts case, in a related multibillion rupees scam.

The arrest warrants were authorised by accountability court Judge Muhammad Bashir. The accountability court heard on Monday the case involving embezzlements in the grant of subsidy to sugarcane farmers, in the fake accounts case. The court directed that the copies of the reference be provided to all the accused in the case.

The accused include Anwar Majeed, Abdul Ghani Majeed, Nimar Majeed and others. The court directed all the accused to hire their lawyers for their defence in the court.

The case involves alleged embezzlement of Rs3.9 billion subsidy that was allocated for the sugarcane farmers. The case was adjourned till January 2.

Last month, the NAB filed a supplementary reference in the fake accounts case against former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur.

In its reference, the anti-corruption watchdog alleged that the funds of a private bank were wrongly used and land was purchased under the name of a benamidar. The bureau said the accused Mushtaq has a joint account with the former president, adding that according to the bank record, the account was used for the PPP co-chairperson. Funds were also transferred abroad through the same account, the reference alleged.

According to the reference, a huge amount of Rs8.3 billion was withdrawn from the fake accounts and Rs1.2 billion were taken out illegally from a private bank's account. It also said that Rs950 million were then transferred back to Zardari's account for his use.

The reference also alleged that Anwar Majeed, Abdul Ghani and Mustafa Zulqarnain played a crucial role in the case.