LAHORE– A Sessions Court has extended Jahangir Tareen and his son Ali Tareen’s bail till April 22, while a banking court too extended their bail till April 17.
A Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Lahore investigation team registered a case of alleged fraud of Rs 3.14 billion on March 22 against them. The FIR states that Jahangir Tareen allegedly transferred illegal shares worth billions of rupees to Farooqi Pulp Mills Limited (FPML), which is owned by his son and close relatives.
It says the transfers, especially after 2011-12, were “patently fraudulent investments which ultimately translated into personal gains” for Jahangir’s family. Some Rs 3 billion were invested and laundered through the same factory. The FIR outlines when and how FPML was made back in 1991.
It includes sections 406, 420 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code with Section 3/4 of Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010. Rana M Shawaz will be the investigation officer.
Jahangir Tareen told the media after making appearances before sessions and banking courts for an extension in his bail that a “fair team” to investigate his case, as he believes that the officers investigating him are “controversial”.
The PTI stalwart further demanded that the team investigating him, should not be such that it “works on a phone call” and called for a new team to investigate him.
He claimed that the FIR against him was “made in Islamabad and signed in Lahore”, after which it was sent to the provincial capital “in a USB”.
He repeated that the probe should be fair and transparent. He added that he was not running away from the law and will “never” do so. He once again, dismissed the claims that he was leaving the ruling party. “We are the party and we will remain in it. If we don’t stay, where will we go,” asked Tareen. He vowed that he will be vindicated by the courts.
Before talking to the media, Tareen along with his supporters appeared before the banking and sessions court hearing his cases.
The PTI stalwart first made an appearance before a sessions court hearing his case and the court extended Jahangir Tareen and his son Ali’s bail till April 22. The hearing was presided over by Judge Hamid Hussain
The judge, before extending the bail, asked the FIA if it had any objection to the court’s decision. The FIA said it had no objection but requested the court to direct Tareen and his son to join the investigation.
“The FIA should state the role of each accused and the investigation should be transparent. All the accused should be part of the FIA investigation,” ordered judge Hussain as he issued the bail orders.
In the hearing before the banking court, Tareen’s bail was extended till April 17. The bail was issued by judge Ameer Muhammad Khan.
