Lahore: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Dar to record his statement in the recently opened investigation against Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif.
Media reports say that the bureau has sent a letter to Dar, a complainant in the case, asking him to appear with documented evidence supporting his party’s claims against the foreign minister’s alleged involvement in money laundering.
The reports state that the NAB letter acknowledged that it took action against Asif after taking notice of PTI’s complaint. Further, PTI’s Dar has been asked to visit the investigation wing of NAB at the authority’s office in Rawalpindi on Tuesday(tomorrow), and meet the NAB officials to discuss the matter while also presenting documents such as the foreign minister’s foreign bank accounts.
Earlier this month, NAB chairperson Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal announced the authority has initiated formal proceedings against Asif after taking notice of PTI leader’s letter, in which he was accused of financial wrongdoing and money laundering.
Speaking to the media, Dar claimed he had evidence showing Asif and his family’s foreign bank accounts, and that he would submit the information if the bureau called him.
“I have all the evidence related to Asif and his family’s foreign accounts and money laundering,” he said.
Speaking on the matter, the NAB spokesperson said the process to verify the complaint could take up to two months. The final decision – whether to initiate a formal inquiry against Asif or not – would be taken depending on the evidence the bureau received against the accused during the process.
Published in Daily Times, March 19th 2018.