News
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Khurram Rasool sent to judicial lockup* FIA says joint probe launched into cases against former PTV media coordinator
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Khurram Rasool, the former media coordinator of PTV, was sent to judicial lockup on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in a Rs 630 million Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) quota scam and a Rs 71 million fraud in the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP).
Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials produced Rasool in court of Senior Civil Judge Shahrukh Arjumand after his four-day physical remand in the two cases ended.
The FIA also submitted a medical report of Rasool, which stated his physical condition to be normal.
FIA official Irfan Burni told the court that the agency had started a joint investigation in all the cases against Rasool. The preliminary investigation has revealed that in the LPG quota scam, Rasool extorted Rs 630 million through fake bank accounts from Pervaiz Hussain. The accused committed the crime in connivance with his brother Shahid Mahmood, Ghulam Ghous and Zafar Jawed.
Rasool and his accomplices prepared and used fake agreements/letters on behalf of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources. The accused also showed themselves as representatives of the Pak Arab Refinery, and the petroleum secretary. On disclosure of his fraud, Rasool issued four cheques for Rs 630 million to Pervaiz Hussain, but the cheques were dishonored.
According to FIA, Zafar Jawad allegedly played a vital role in handling the defrauded money by introducing himself as a former bank officer. He also witnessed fake agreements and received more than Rs 8 million of the defrauded money. The FIA arrested Jawad on March 15, 2011.
The FIA official also told the court that relevant documents in both the cases had been recovered and further investigation was underway.
The judge sent Rasool on a judicial remand and directed the FIA to produce him before the court on February 21.
Rasool was arrested on January 26 for his alleged involvement in allocations of fake quotas of sugar quotas from the TCP.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk