Omni boss files review petition against SC order in money laundering case

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Anwer Majid, owner of the Omni group, Wednesday filed a review petition in the Supreme Court challenging its January 7 decision the mega money laundering case ordering the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file a reference against him in Islamabad or Rawalpindi courts.

The petitioner through his counsel Shahid Hamid adopted the stance that “all the allegations are connected with Karachi, moreover, all witnesses live there as well, however ordering the NAB to file the reference in Islamabad is illegal and should be reviewed.”

Similarly, the filing of a reference by NAB Rawalpindi was “unlawful” as the “entire alleged record” of the case was in Karachi.

“Majeed faces ill health and has also presented a medical report in this regard and due to ill health it is very difficult for our client to travel Islamabad from Karachi,” the counsel pleaded in the petition.

The counsel also requested the court to restrain Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from providing details of the investigation to the media.

He submitted that the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) had conducted investigation into the matter and there were no need of further probe. It did not come under the domain of NAB but the FIA, which should be directed to submit its final chalan on the basis of the JIT report submitted earlier, he added.

Meanwhile, Faryal Talpur, sister of Zardari, also filed a separate review petition challenging the said apex court’s January 7 orders.

Former president and his sister on January 28 had filed a joint review petition in the Supreme Court through their lawyer Latif Khosa. However, Faryal Talpur on Wednesday submitted a separate plea through her counsel Farooq H Naek. The Suprem Court, in its January 7 verdict, had referred the JIT report and evidence collected to NAB for further investigation, directing the anti-corruption watchdog to wrap up its investigation within two months.

The top court also directed the authorities to remove names of PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and Sindh Chief Minister  Murad Ali Shah from the Exit Control List (ECL) for the time being. However, it added, NAB would not be prevented from probing their case further.

The judgment stated that all cases, which had not been concluded or in the opinion of the JIT required further probe would remain within the jurisdiction of the JIT which would continue its investigation and complete it within reasonable time where after its report together with all material and evidence would be transmitted to NAB without the need for any further order from this court for action in accordance with law.