- FIA pens letter to Interpol for help to arrest Shahzad Akbar
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday approached Interpol for the arrest of ‘proclaimed offender’ former accountability czar Shahzad Akbar, who is currently in self-imposed exile in United Kingdom (UK).
Following a request from Islamabad police, the investigation agency penned a letter to Interpol and sought its help in arresting the former accountability czar.
The development came after Shahzad Akbar was declared a proclaimed offender by Civil Judge Ahmed Shehzad Gondal in a case, encompassing charges of fraud and other serious offenses.
On the other hand, an accountability court in Islamabad on Friday ordered the issuance of advertisements summoning ex-premier Imran Khan’s co-accused in the £190 million corruption case.
A total of eight people were nominated in the case. Others beside Imran include his wife Bushra Bibi, her friend Farhat Shahzadi aka Farah Gogi, PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari, former accountability czar Shahzad Akbar and Barrister Ziaul Mustafa Naseem.
The court also ordered the posting of the advertisements outside the residences of the co-accused under Section 87 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC)
The report by the investigation officer (IO) stated that the accused have impeded the investigation through their non-compliance and also recorded his statement in court. .Judge Muhammad Bashir then adjourned the hearing till January 6, 2024.
Earlier on Dec 1, NAB filed a £190 million corruption reference against Imran, his wife Bushra Bibi, a close family friend Farah Gogi and others in the accountability court.
NAB Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi and IO Mian Umar Nadeem submitted the reference against eight accused to the court’s Registrar’s Office. The reference lists other accused as Shahzad Akbar, Barrister Ziaul Mustafa Naseem, and Zulfi Bukhari. Documents submitted include arrest warrants for the accused and a witness list comprising 59 individuals.
The warrants were forwarded to DG NAB Rawalpindi, IG Islamabad and IG Punjab. NAB chairman directed the officials to arrest the accused and produce them in court.
