Farah Gogi, Ahsan Jameel Gujjar's Assets Increased By 420% In Just 3 Years

Farah Gogi, Ahsan Jameel Gujjar's Assets Increased By 420% In Just 3 Years
Major progress has been made in the anti-corruption inquiry against former first lady Bushra Bibi's friend Farhat Shahzadi alias Farah Gogi. National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore has traced 117 bank accounts in the name of Farhat Shahzadi and her husband Ahsan Jameel Gujjar.

According to NAB sources, four foreign bank accounts in the name of Farhat Shahzadi (Farah Gogi) and Ahsan Jameel have also been traced. In addition, NAB Lahore has also secured a record of transactions worth Rs 4.5 billion during Buzdar's regime.

Sources further say that the purchase and sale of 240 kanals of land in Bani Gala, Islamabad, with the son of a well-known property tycoon has been uncovered. According to the records, the accused acquired the said Bani Gala land for Rs 530 million.

According to NAB, properties worth nearly Rs 1.5 billion have also been discovered to be held in the names of the two accused. In the year 2021, accused Farah Gogi had disclosed total assets of Rs 97 crores to FBR. 10 companies owned by Farah Gogi and her husband have also been identified which were allegedly used for financial transactions. In the investigation, the NAB investigation team also arrested the cash boy working for Farah Gogi. The cash boy has so far admitted total cash transaction worth Rs 860 million, the evidence of which has been obtained by NAB.

According to the records, Farah Gogi was able to legitimise Rs 50 crore of her wealth by benefiting from the amnesty scheme. In the amnesty scheme, the acquisition of agricultural produce worth Rs 32 crores was shown, while the accused did not own any agricultural land. Farhat Shahzadi and Ahsan Jameel Gujjar's assets have reportedly increased by 420% in 3 years. The accused also acquired properties worth more than Rs 1 billion from 2018 to 2021.

According to the sources, a luxury flat in Dubai has also been revealed in the name of Farhat Shahzadi alias Farah Gogi, and her husband Ahsan Jameel Gujjar; this was not disclosed to the FBR in their annual returns. Farhat Shahzadu and her husband also came into the ownership of 8 properties in Lahore, including in the posh Defence area and the Commercial Plaza in Bahria Town.

Another 4-kanal plot worth crores of rupees in Lahore is also included as their property. Moreover, a 2-kanal bungalow in Sector F-7 of Islamabad has been uncovered as also registered in the name of the accused. In the course of the NAB investigation, 19 vehicles were found to be registered in the name of Ahsan Jameel Gujar and his spouse Farhat Shahzadi.

NAB has summoned Farhat Shahzadi and Ahsan Jameel Gujjar to appear on June 8.

It should be noted that FIA decided to arrest Farhat Shahzadi alias Farah Gogi, and bring her to Pakistan, for which Interpol was formally contracted to issue a red warrant. Farah Gogi's legal team had also sent a legal notice to Interpol and FIA, to challenge the Pakistani government's request to issue a red notice against the accused.

The writer is a senior correspondent at The Friday Times with a focus on politics, economy and militancy. He also hosts the Hassan Naqvi Show on Naya Daur.