NICL scandal: Amin Fahim feels victimised by ‘media propaganda’
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Ameen Faheem on Thursday expressed concern over alleged victimization by media propaganda based on unjustified facts establishing his and his family connections with the NICL scam.
“For last two months, me and my family feel victimized by media propaganda based on unjustified facts establishing our connections with NICL Scandal,” the Commerce Minister said in a clarification issued here. Ameen Faheem elaborated that he and his family were undergoing a legal deal with Muhammad Zafar Saleem which had no connection with the issue of NICL (National Insurance Company Ltd) and had also sent a legal notice to some papers regarding rebuttal of the propaganda.
“Being a responsible and busy member of the Federal Cabinet and holder of other political offices, it may not be possible for me nor appropriate toindividually address each and every question of different newspapers and TVanchorpersons who each have a different concept (based on misinformation) of the case”, he clarified. He asked the media persons to note the facts he and his family were dealing with Muhammad Zafar Saleem for an independent transaction, which was different and separate from the transaction that resulted in the scam of NICL. Clarifying the facts, Makhdoom Ameen Faheem said that on 23rd of January 2009 (much before NICL issue was taken up by the court), Muhammad Zafar Saleem and Mrs. Rizwana Amin, his wife, entered into a sale agreement for the sale of her House No. 75/11, 25th Street, Phase VI, DHA, Karachi. He said that Mrs. Rizwana Amin was obliged to sell her house to pay for the loan that she and his family had taken from Standard Chartered Bank and Mr. Zafar Saleem agreed to pay Rs 8 crore (Rs 80 million ) to her for discharging the said debt so that on payment of the loan the redeemed property could be sold and registered in the name of Muhammad Zafar Slaeem.
The Commerce Minister clarified that Muhammad Zafar Saleem paid a sum of Rs. 3,500,000/- as earnest money and was supposed to pay remaining Rs 76,000,000/- within 10 months i.e before 22/01/2010.
He said that the sale agreement had authorized Muhammad Zafar Saleem to deposit the sale price directly to the bank towards the satisfaction of the loan. Makhdoom Ameen Faheem said that Muhammad Zafar Saleem deposited a sum of Rs. 41 million through a cheque issued by one of his relatives (Khawaja Akbar Butt). He further said that unfortunately, Muhammad Zafar Saleem died in a plane crash in July 2010 and his family in spite of legal notices was unable to pay the remaining amount. “My wife Mrs. Rizwana Amin was left with no other alternative expect to file a Civil Suit No. 793/2011 in the Sindh High Court against the legal heirs of Muhammad Zafar Saleem”, he added. The Minister said that the heirs of Muhammad Zafar Saleem accepted theliability under the agreement dated 23rd of January 2009 but pleaded inability to pay and sought a compromise on the terms that they would pay 10 per cent as penalty on the amount paid while Mrs. Rizwana Amin will return the remaining amount of Rs. 40,050,000 to the heirs of Muhammad Zafar Saleem. He added that the compromise deed was filed before the Sindh High Court who after recording the statements of the respective counsel, decided the suit cancelling the sale agreement dated 23-01-2009 in termsof the compromise. He said that finally an amount of Rs. 40,050,000/- was returned to the legal heirs of Muhammad Zafar Saleem and not to the NICL or the FIA (Federal Investigation Agency). The Minister said the heirs of Muhammad Zafar Saleem found itconvenient, appropriate and necessary to return this amount to the relative of Muhammad Zafar Saleem (Khawaja Akbar Butt) “who has nothing to do with me or with my family”. The Minister added that on the last date of hearing of the case in theSupreme Court, the FIA representative accepted every term of the agreement and the final compromise as spelled out “by me above and the learned Chief Justice has noted in his order that an amount of Rs. 40,050,000/- has been paid to and received by the heirs of Muhammad Zafar Saleem”. The Commerce Minister expressed the hope that this necessary detail would convince the media persons that “I and my family were trying to sell the property of my wife to pay the debt to Standard Chartered Bank and entered into a transparent and valid agreement for the sale of the property which has been finally concluded through cancellation of the agreement and return of the amount minus 10 per cent penalty”. He said although Muhammad Zafar Saleem had deposited Rs.41,000,000 and paid Rs. 3,500,000/- as earnest money (total Rs. 44,500,000) the amount returned to them was Rs. 40,050,000. “Neither do I have anything to do with the property that was sold to NICL allegedly at a higher price nor with the decision between NICL and the sellers of the land which became part of the scam”, he clarified.
Makhdoom Ameen Faheem requested the media not to repeat any of the allegations against him and his members that they received any amount that was a part of the so-called illegal purchase at a high price by the NICL. He said,” I or any member of my family ever agreed or paid any money to FIA”. The minister said that Mrs. Rizwana Amin instead paid an amount of Rs.40,050,000 to the heirs of Muhammad Zafar Saleem on account of cancellation of agreement dated January, 2, 2009. He said that all the relevant documents to prove the facts were with the firm “Zafar Law Associate” and if any person, who was interested to see or have a copy of them, could call the law office who would be willing to send them the requisite documents.
Source: The News
Date:7/22/2011
” 
” 
” 
” 
” 
