The NCA investigates money laundering and illicit finances derived from criminal activity in the UK and abroad, and in the case of the latter, returns the stolen money to affected states. It seems that Mr. Riaz had for some time been the subject of a ‘dirty money’ probe by the Agency. On Dec 3, 2019 it announced a £190 million out-of-court civil settlement with Mr. Riaz. https://www.dawn.com/news/1618221
PILAP moved to find what FBR has followed on for tax recoveries of ill-gotten, siphoned money to the UK, a huge sum for out of the court settlement of £190 million.
1. We originally wrote to the FBR under the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017
on 17th December 2019
2. FBR declined to provide the information vide letter dated 26th December 2019
3. PILAP filed an Appeal before the Pakistan Information Commission on 3rd January 2020
4. The Pakistan Information Commission issued a hearing notice to FBR on 14th January 2020, fixing a hearing for 29th January 2020
5. FBR did not appear before the Commission on 29th January 2020
6. The Commission issued a fresh notice to FBR on 11th March 2020, fixing a hearing for 25th March 2020. The FBR was informed that if it did not attend, an ex-parte decision would be taken against it
7. Due to the FBR’s failure to attend the hearing yet again, the Commission issued yet another hearing notice to FBR on 21st July 2020, fixing a hearing for 19th August 2020
8. PILAP provided the details of the case to the Commission again and asked for ex-parte orders through our letter Ref: PILAP/HO/2020/363 dated 29th July 2020
9. We again sent a letter dated 3rd September 2020 to your respected office requesting for an update of the hearing and any orders passed on 19th August 2020
10. We received a letter dated 1st September 2020 from the Commission informing us of a hearing scheduled for 7th October 2020, accompanied by a hearing notice issued to FBR for the same date
11. PILAP submitted a letter to the Commission requesting an update of the hearing scheduled for 7th October 2020
12. We received yet another hearing notice dated 20th November 2020 from the Commission whereby the FBR was directed to submit a written reply and arguments within ten days of receipt of the notice, and that failure to respond would result in an Ex-Parte order
13. PILAP sent yet another letter to the Commission requesting an update on FBR’s written reply and arguments
14. The Pakistan Information Commission issued yet another hearing notice dated 8th January 2021 to FBR for a hearing scheduled for 20th January 2021
15. The Commission sent us a letter dated 21st January 2021 providing information ostensibly supplied by the FBR, which was, in fact, a letter dated 18th January 2021 submitted by our own organization to the Commission requesting for an ex-parte order in the event of FBR’s failure to attend yet again.
16. PILAP sent a letter to PIC informing them of the above-mentioned fact, and requesting an ex-parte order, as the letter dated 8th January 2021 from your respected office had mentioned passing such an order in the event of FBR’s failure to appear yet again.
17. A hearing was held before the PIC on 25th February 2021, however, no order was passed
18. PILAP was in receipt of yet another hearing notice issued to FBR, in which a hearing has been scheduled for 10th March 2021
19. We submitted a letter to PIC reiterating our case and requesting an order.
20. Thereafter, we received a letter dated 10th March 2021 informing us of yet another hearing scheduled for 24th March, 2021
21. submitted a letter to PIC requesting for an update of the case or any orders passed on the hearing of 24th March
22. PIC issued another hearing notice to FBR vide hearing summons dated 19th May, 2021 for a hearing on 2nd June 2021
23. PIC rescheduled the hearing of FBR vide hearing summons dated 24th June, 2021 for a hearing on 14th July 2021.
24. We submitted a letter to PIC in follow-up reiterating our case and requesting an order.
