SC tells FIA to arrest PM�s ex-coordinator

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday warned the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Tehsin Anwar Shah of criminal action if he failed to arrest Mian Khurram Rasool, former media coordinator to Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, accused of extorting Rs530 million.

A three-member bench of the apex court, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez, heard the petition, filed by Pervaiz Hussain and others against Mian Khurram Rasool, who allegedly defrauded over Rs530 million from a Karachi-based business concern on the pretext of managing a petroleum export licence for Nato supply to it and awarding of a contract of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG).

The court directed the FIA to C ensure the arrest of Mian Khurram Rasool and produce him before it on January 24. The court warned the FIA Director General Tehsin Anwar Shah of criminal action if he failed to apprehend Mian Khurram Rasool and produce him before the court on January 24.

Rasheed A Rizvi, counsel for the petitioners, apprised the court that Khurram Rasool, his brother Shahid Mehmood and one Ghulam Ghous also managed to forge the signature of secretary Petroleum and Natural Resources on various agreements.

FIA’s Director (Legal) Azam Khan told the court that the FIA was clueless about the whereabouts of the accused so far. He, however, sought more time to comply with the court orders to apprehend the accused.

During the hearing, the chief justice observed that nobody had dared to arrest the accused earlier because he was residing in the Prime Minister’s House. Justice Khilji Arif Hussain said how it was possible that the FIA was clueless about the whereabouts of the accused.

Rizvi submitted that Khurram Rasool had received the money on the pretext of managing the LPG quota and oil export licence to Nato forces in Afghanistan for two companies of the petitioners, including Sahara Gas (pvt) Limited and Pak Delta Enterprises (pvt) Limited.

He said the accused was not being arrested for the last 11 months. He said an accused was arrested on the orders of President Asif Ali Zardari from Malaysia within three days as he was accused by the president.

The chief justice then noted that “We know the FIA head does not obey the court orders, but even then we have granted him so many times to obey the court orders”. Rizvi contended that forgery of signatures on the agreements came to the knowledge of the petitioners when they presented the documents for implementation to the relevant government departments.

He submitted that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources and Pak-Arab Refinery Company (Parco) informed the petitioners that all the agreements presented by them were forged documents while no amount was received by them for or on behalf of the petitioners.

He said Khurram Rasool also allegedly got the support of officials of a bank in Islamabad where, he said, accounts were opened in the name of fake partnership without observing the State Bank of Pakistan’s instructions for opening of a new account. He said the matter was brought to the notice of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, who directed his principal secretary to write to the Interior secretary for initiation of an inquiry into the matter.

He further informed the court that the inquiry found Khurram Rasool guilty, and an FIR was registered against him, his brother Shahid Mehmood and other accomplices and officials of that bank.

He said the FIA neither arrested any of the accused mentioned in the FIR nor conducted an investigation. Upon which, he said the petitioners filed their writ petitions before the Islamabad High Court against the FIA chief.

He said the High Court issued directives to the FIA in July 2011 to proceed with the matter strictly in accordance with law, sans any fear or favour and to arrest the accused, but no action was taken by the FIA in the case so far; thus, he had to move the apex court. He said Mian Khurram Rasool, in the capacity of media coordinator to the prime minister, deceitfully and fraudulently extorted over Rs530 million last year.

Musharraf seeks US help against arrest on return

ISLAMABAD: General Musharraf has conveyed it to Washington that the Pakistani establishment at the highest level is engaged, behind the scenes, to ensure that their former boss is not humiliated on his return to Pakistan.

An American Pakistani and close associate of the former dictator, Raza Bokhari, has approached three former US Congressmen to campaign for foolproof guarantees from Washington, which Musharraf served with loyalty, regarding the former dictator’s smooth and trouble-free return to Pakistan by the end of this month.

An influential diplomatic source, who has received a copy of the communication sent by Musharraf’s confidante to the ex-US Congressmen, shared the contents of the letter with The News.

The message conveys how profoundly the former dictator is depending on foreign powers, particularly the US, for his return to Pakistan as a free man and do his choice politics and move around wherever he desires to.

The message for three former Congressmen also contained details about what they are expected to do for Musharraf besides telling the Americans that the ex-president would meet both King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and King Abdullah of Jordan before his return to Pakistan.

Raza Bokhari is a US-Pakistani businessman, who is a confidante of Musharraf, and has also recently visited Islamabad to meet the US Ambassador in connection with Musharraf’s return. Bokhari seeks the trouble free return for Musharraf by ensuring that he is neither arrested in Pakistan nor is barred from travelling inside or outside the country.

The former dictator also seeks from the Obama administration as well as the US Congress a pro-Musharraf statement as soon as he arrives in Pakistan. He has also asked Washington to ensure that within a few days of his arrival, US ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter should meet Musharraf.

Three Congressmen whom the communication is addressed to include Bill Sarpalius, Lincoln Davis and Robin Tallon. The operative part of the communication, which is nothing less than an eye-opener to judge the tricks and trades of Pakistani rulers and politicians, is reproduced here:

“Dear ..... President Musharraf has announced that he is ending his self-imposed exile to lead his political party, All Pakistan Muslim League, in the next elections and arrive in the port city of Karachi between Jan 27th and Jan 30th. In this history shaping journey, President Musharraf will be accompanied by more 500 Pakistani expats from around the world, including 100 plus Pakistani Americans. There is also a contingent of more than 100 leading journalists and media anchors from US, Canada, UK, Europe, Middle East, China, India and Pakistan that has confirmed so far and the number is rising.

In preparation of President Musharraf’s return later this month, our hope for this month is to achieve the following:

1. Secure assurances from SOS that United States is doing its part to ensure that the following is achieved:

a. President Musharraf is not arrested on arrival to Pakistan. He is willing to face any charges false or real in the courts. There is no need to arrest him.

b. President Musharraf is not put on the “Exit Control List” once he arrives in Pakistan so that he can freely move in and out of Pakistan to fulfil his global obligations as a statesman, philanthropist, and opinion maker.

2. Inquire if our intelligence agencies will like to establish a process and share with us on an ongoing basis, if they become aware of any specific physical threat to President Musharraf in Pakistan or elsewhere.

3. Secure a bi-partisan letter signed by several dozen members of Congress addressed to the POTUS or SOS to demonstrate Congressional support for President Musharraf (proposed draft is under consideration).

4. On the day of Musharraf’s arrival to Pakistan, we should secure few members both in the House and Senate to speak on the floor in favour of President Musharraf’s return to Pakistan.

5. If President Musharraf is arrested or put on the “Exit Control List”, we must know whether the secretary of state and our ambassador in Islamabad will condemn such an act and demand that he be released and allowed to travel freely in and out. In addition, we need to line-up Congressional leadership to do the same.

6. We must ensure than within 48 to 72 hours of President Musharraf arrival in Islamabad, our ambassador must call on him in his home.

7. Not sure what the Secretary Clinton’s schedule is but President Musharraf will gladly make a trip to US or meet her elsewhere before his departure to Pakistan.

We can share with relevant folks in DC that a very high powered legal team led by Mr Hafeez Pirzada is working with the courts to ensure that he is not arrested or restrained. The relevant institutions within the Pakistani establishment at the highest level are also engaged behind the scenes to ensure that their former army chief, President Musharraf, is not embarrassed or dragged through the mud on his return to Pakistan. We must however not leave anything to assumption and continue to do our part in the US.

In addition it is OK to share that President Musharraf is heading to Jordan to meet King Abdullah and will go to Saudi Arabia to perform a religious pilgrimage and very likely also meet HM King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Nayef, Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal and intelligence chief Prince Muqram.”

APML leader Dr Amjad when contacted denied that US Congressmen were ever approached by or on behalf Musharraf to secure foolproof guarantee for his return. He said in the present tense situation between Islamabad and Washington the latter could not do much to help Musharraf.

Regarding Pakistani establishment, he said that instead of getting support from Pakistan Army it was conveyed by the military establishment to Musharraf that he should delay his return to Pakistan. “We have no support from establishment,” Dr Amjad categorically stated.

Musharraf seeks US help against arrest on return

ISLAMABAD: General Musharraf has conveyed it to Washington that the Pakistani establishment at the highest level is engaged, behind the scenes, to ensure that their former boss is not humiliated on his return to Pakistan.

An American Pakistani and close associate of the former dictator, Raza Bokhari, has approached three former US Congressmen to campaign for foolproof guarantees from Washington, which Musharraf served with loyalty, regarding the former dictator’s smooth and trouble-free return to Pakistan by the end of this month.

An influential diplomatic source, who has received a copy of the communication sent by Musharraf’s confidante to the ex-US Congressmen, shared the contents of the letter with The News.

The message conveys how profoundly the former dictator is depending on foreign powers, particularly the US, for his return to Pakistan as a free man and do his choice politics and move around wherever he desires to.

The message for three former Congressmen also contained details about what they are expected to do for Musharraf besides telling the Americans that the ex-president would meet both King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and King Abdullah of Jordan before his return to Pakistan.

Raza Bokhari is a US-Pakistani businessman, who is a confidante of Musharraf, and has also recently visited Islamabad to meet the US Ambassador in connection with Musharraf’s return. Bokhari seeks the trouble free return for Musharraf by ensuring that he is neither arrested in Pakistan nor is barred from travelling inside or outside the country.

The former dictator also seeks from the Obama administration as well as the US Congress a pro-Musharraf statement as soon as he arrives in Pakistan. He has also asked Washington to ensure that within a few days of his arrival, US ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter should meet Musharraf.

Three Congressmen whom the communication is addressed to include Bill Sarpalius, Lincoln Davis and Robin Tallon. The operative part of the communication, which is nothing less than an eye-opener to judge the tricks and trades of Pakistani rulers and politicians, is reproduced here:

“Dear ..... President Musharraf has announced that he is ending his self-imposed exile to lead his political party, All Pakistan Muslim League, in the next elections and arrive in the port city of Karachi between Jan 27th and Jan 30th. In this history shaping journey, President Musharraf will be accompanied by more 500 Pakistani expats from around the world, including 100 plus Pakistani Americans. There is also a contingent of more than 100 leading journalists and media anchors from US, Canada, UK, Europe, Middle East, China, India and Pakistan that has confirmed so far and the number is rising.

In preparation of President Musharraf’s return later this month, our hope for this month is to achieve the following:

1. Secure assurances from SOS that United States is doing its part to ensure that the following is achieved:

a. President Musharraf is not arrested on arrival to Pakistan. He is willing to face any charges false or real in the courts. There is no need to arrest him.

b. President Musharraf is not put on the “Exit Control List” once he arrives in Pakistan so that he can freely move in and out of Pakistan to fulfil his global obligations as a statesman, philanthropist, and opinion maker.

2. Inquire if our intelligence agencies will like to establish a process and share with us on an ongoing basis, if they become aware of any specific physical threat to President Musharraf in Pakistan or elsewhere.

3. Secure a bi-partisan letter signed by several dozen members of Congress addressed to the POTUS or SOS to demonstrate Congressional support for President Musharraf (proposed draft is under consideration).

4. On the day of Musharraf’s arrival to Pakistan, we should secure few members both in the House and Senate to speak on the floor in favour of President Musharraf’s return to Pakistan.

5. If President Musharraf is arrested or put on the “Exit Control List”, we must know whether the secretary of state and our ambassador in Islamabad will condemn such an act and demand that he be released and allowed to travel freely in and out. In addition, we need to line-up Congressional leadership to do the same.

6. We must ensure than within 48 to 72 hours of President Musharraf arrival in Islamabad, our ambassador must call on him in his home.

7. Not sure what the Secretary Clinton’s schedule is but President Musharraf will gladly make a trip to US or meet her elsewhere before his departure to Pakistan.

We can share with relevant folks in DC that a very high powered legal team led by Mr Hafeez Pirzada is working with the courts to ensure that he is not arrested or restrained. The relevant institutions within the Pakistani establishment at the highest level are also engaged behind the scenes to ensure that their former army chief, President Musharraf, is not embarrassed or dragged through the mud on his return to Pakistan. We must however not leave anything to assumption and continue to do our part in the US.

In addition it is OK to share that President Musharraf is heading to Jordan to meet King Abdullah and will go to Saudi Arabia to perform a religious pilgrimage and very likely also meet HM King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Nayef, Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal and intelligence chief Prince Muqram.”

APML leader Dr Amjad when contacted denied that US Congressmen were ever approached by or on behalf Musharraf to secure foolproof guarantee for his return. He said in the present tense situation between Islamabad and Washington the latter could not do much to help Musharraf.

Regarding Pakistani establishment, he said that instead of getting support from Pakistan Army it was conveyed by the military establishment to Musharraf that he should delay his return to Pakistan. “We have no support from establishment,” Dr Amjad categorically stated.