LAHORE – The Lahore High Court on Monday issued contempt notice to an accused involved in multi million fraud cases for presenting a fake medical certificate for getting exemption from appearance in the court.
Accused Asim Mahmood Malik is chief executive officer of a private visa consultancy firm.
Following notices, Dr Asfand Yaar of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) appeared before the court and disowned authorization of the medical certificate used by the accused Asim Malik for escaping appearance in the court.
He informed the court that neither he signed nor issued any medical certificate to Asim Malik. Actually, he said, the certificate was fake document. At this, the court asked whether the accused had come to the court or not. The accused counsel replied in nix and submitted his client’s life was under threat.
This irked Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, who remarked that a man had duped people and now playing hide and seek with court. Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Punjab Director Waqar Haider appeared before the court and said the agency had registered fraud cases against Asim Malik on application of 32 complainants.
He said the investigation of these had been handed over to Deputy Director Nasir Jamil. More cases would also be registered against the accused if any other victims would contact the FIA, Haider added.
The court deferred hearing till Oct 15 and also sought assistance of the senior lawyers on a legal point whether the court could supervise the investigation of these cases or not.
Previously, the court had directed the FIA to register cases against Asim Mahmood Malik.
The court is hearing dozens of writ petitions moved by citizens against owner of the visa consultancy firm.
Petitioners alleged that they had given money to the company’s chief executive officer for going abroad but they were defrauded.
They said Asim Malik neither sent them abroad nor returned their hard earned money.