Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Ayyan Ali money laundering case has taken a new turn, as the Punjab government has hinted at taking the murder case of Customs Inspector Chaudhry Ijaz to an anti-terrorism court.

Ijaz, who would have been the prime witness in the money laundering case involving Ali, was shot dead by unidentified assailants inside his house on June 3, 2015.

The deputy prosecutor on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that Ijaz’s murder was an act of terrorism because he was a government official. He said the case involving murder of the government official should be sent to the anti-terrorism court.

However, the Supreme Court extended its order suspending warrants for the arrest of Ali in the Ijaz murder case till September 21. The court also directed the supermodel to cooperate with those investigating Ijaz’s murder.

A three-member bench consisting of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Ameer Hani Muslim clubbed four appeals related to the Ali money laundering case and the Ijaz murder case. Currently, the Supreme Court is hearing Ali’s appeal against the Interior Ministry, which has not removed her name from the Exit Control List, Ali’s contempt of court plea against the Interior Ministry, Interior Ministry’s appeal against removal of Ali’s name from the Exit Control List, appeal of Ijaz’s widow against Ali and Ali’s appeal against the warrants issued for her arrest. The bench on Tuesday resumed hearing of Ali’s appeal for nullification of the warrants for her arrest. Sardar Latif Khosa, counsel for Ali, told the court that his client’s life was in danger because the government wanted to kidnap her or kill her like Qandeel Baloch. He told the court that Ali was in jail when customs officer Ijaz was murdered.

Punjab Assistant Advocate General Khalid Abbassi told the court that supermodel Ali was served notice on the application filed by Ijaz’s widow.

The court however asked the law officer to explain if the authorities took any action against the negligent investigation officers after Ali was served a notice. The law officer replied in negative. The court then asked him to explain if any other person was involved in this case. The law officer said that Customs Superintendent Zargham Gul and Dr Haroon of Benazir Hospital had been linked to Ijaz’s murder.

The court asked as to why these accused had not been arrested so far. The law officer said the accused joined the investigation hence they were not arrested. He said that Ali neither received the notice nor joined the investigation therefore warrants were issued for her arrest. He said the Interior Ministry had put Ali’s name on the Exit Control List after Ijaz’s wife Saima nominated her in her husband’s murder case.