IHC restores Dr Fazeela Abbasi's bail in money laundering case
Restoring interim bail to Dr Fazeela Abbasi, sister of actor and director Hamza Ali Abbasi, in a money laundering case involving billions of rupees, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday barred the police from arresting her, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Justice Azam Khan, who heard the bail petition filed by Dr Fazeela, ordered her to deposit bail bond of Rs100,000. The IHC also directed the petitioner to approach the trial court.
Dr Fazeela appeared in the court along with her counsel Naeem Bukhari.
Speaking during the hearing, Bukhari said that his client appeared in court 10 times. “Only once she failed to show up and deposited a medical certificate for three days. But the court rejected her bail plea,” he informed.
Earlier on Tuesday, Dr Fazeela filed a petition in the IHC, seeking restoration of her bail in the case.
The IHC’s Registrar’s Office fixed the case for the hearing today.
A trial court had rejected her bail plea after she failed to show up.
On Monday, 24News TV channel reported that the FIA’s Corporate Crime Circle had initiated legal action against Dr. Fazeela Abbasi's beauty clinic for violation of rules and illegal activities.
According to the FIA, Dr. Fazeela Abbasi started an unlicensed medical practice in a residential area of sector F-8 in Islamabad.
Unregistered and substandard medicines were reportedly recovered from her clinic.
Healthcare laws and CDA regulations were also violated at the clinic.
Dr Fazeela continued illegal commercial activities in the residential area.
There was also an attempt to destroy evidence at the clinic before the FIA raid.
The FIA has also registered a case of money laundering against Dr Fazeela.
She has been accused of violating foreign exchange laws.
It has come to light that suspicious transactions of more than Rs2.5 billion were also made in 22 bank accounts of Dr Fazeela's clinic.
Dr Fazeela declared her income of only four to six lakh rupees on transactions worth billions of rupees.
Further investigation was conducted on the clear discrepancy between the declared income and the actual financial activities.
Dr Fazeela had her own and joint accounts in Dubai Islamic Bank, MCB, UBL and JS Bank.
Dr Fazeela allegedly made large-scale suspicious transactions in dollars and dirhams. Illegal funds were allegedly transferred to all bank accounts, evidence of hawala and hundi was also found.
The investigation into alleged facilitation of government officials by Dr Fazeela has also been launched. Other people besides Dr Fazeela are also involved in the network. And more arrests will be made.
Reporter: Ehtesham Kiyani