ISLAMABAD, Sep 19: Supreme Court on Wednesday sought report from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) within 15 days, in connection with the 2,700 property acquired by Pakistanis in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar passed the directions while hearing the suo motu case on assets owned by Pakistani nationals in foreign countries.
During the course of proceedings, Director General FIA Bashir Memon apprised the bench regarding property in the UAE and asked for a month’s time to submit a full report.
Attorney General, informed the court that the United Kingdom and Pakistan had launched a partnership which aimed to track corruption and restart the bilateral transfer of prisoners. He further informed that 44 hawala/hundi businessmen had been arrested and raids were being conducted in Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and various other cities.
The Chief Justice remarked that according to Section 183 of Article 4 of the Constitution, we must take action against money launderers in the public interest.
The top judge instructed AG to submit progress report regarding measures taken to curb smuggling money through the hawala/hundi system.
Meanwhile, addressing the Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Tariq Bajwa, Justice Nisar said, “We have high hopes from you but we are not receiving the desired results. You will have to present us with a solution.
To this Bajwa said, the government was legislating and amending old laws, adding that declarations signed with foreign governments would facilitate in bringing back stolen money from abroad.
According to an information, “Pakistanis have property worth Rs1,000 billion in the UAE a task force can be used to summon all these property holders if the government desires to do so,” said Justice Nisar.
