Dar case: former NBP chief had contacts with private bank manager, Zia tells AC

Wajid Zia, a key prosecution witness and head of joint investigation team (JIT) that probed Panama Papers case, on Wednesday said that former president National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Saeed Ahmed had contacts with manager of Al-Tawfeeq Investment Bank and its record is available.
While testifying before Accountability Court (AC) hearing assets beyond means case against former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Zia said that the statements of Saeed Ahmed and Javed Kiyani were recorded as witnesses.
Zia led the JIT in the Panama Papers case which was constituted by the Supreme Court to investigate the assets of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his children and Dar. The JIT report submitted to the court on July 10, 2017 led to Sharif's disqualification as prime minister and the court directed NAB to file three references against the Sharifs and one against Dar.
Saeed's counsel asked Zia during cross-examination, "Did you check my client Saeed's signature?" Zia replied that the JIT had not checked Saeed's signature through a handwriting expert.
The defence counsel further questioned Zia, "On which ground you have recorded your statement before this court?" The witness said that he made his statement on the basis of evidence revealed during JIT investigation.
Zia said that JIT had conducted investigation regarding accounts of Al-Tawfeeq Investment, Emirates and Al Baraka Banks.
"Did any evidence regarding transactions exist in these banks?" the defence counsel asked the witness. Zia replied that evidence with respect to transactions is available in these three banks. During the previous hearing, Zia stated before the court that Dar's assets had grown exponentially from 1982-83 till 2008. In 1982-83, Dar owned assets worth Rs 9.1 million and by 2008 he declared assets worth Rs 831.6 million, he said.
He said that former finance minister opened accounts in Bank of America, Al-Tawfeeq Investment Company and Emirates Bank through his accomplices. Zia further said that Saeed Ahmed, and officials of Dar's firm, Hajvery Modaraba, opened fake accounts to facilitate transactions of ill-gotten money.
The court adjourned hearing of the case till May 15 after defence counsel completed cross-examination of Zia. On the next hearing, counsel of Mansoor Raza Rizvi and Naeem Mehmood, both directors of Dar's companies, will cross-examine Zia.
The NAB had filed a supplementary reference against Dar on February 26 last year. The reference comprises seven volumes and includes 24 witnesses and three co-accused namely former NBP president Saeed Ahmed, Rizvi and Mehmood.