Pakistan

FIA reopens money-laundering case against actress Sophia Mirza

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

FIA’s Corporate Crime Circle in Karachi summoned actress.
FIA officer says legal proceedings will be started.
Original complaint of money-laundering was registered in Sept 2019.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has summoned actress and model Sophia Mirza regarding a previous money-laundering inquiry which was shut down.

The FIA’s Corporate Crime Circle (CCC) in Karachi had asked the actress to appear in the provincial capital and answer questions about the money-laundering case but the actress didn’t turn up and the FIA has confirmed that it will be taking further action over Mirza’s non-appearance.

A letter sent by FIA’s Karachi Circuit had asked the actress to appear before the investigation team to answer questions about FIR No. 53/2022 “registered at this circle under the provision of Anti Money Laundering Act 2010”.

“During the course of the investigation, it has transpired that you have made sale/purchase transactions with the accused person for providing him foreign currencies without any slip/receipt and it appears that you are well acquainted with a crime,” the notice read.

The FIA Karachi said Mirza, whose real name is Khushbakht Mirza, was asked to appear before the FIA with her original CNIC and was directed to bring a full record covering the period from 2019 to date to clarify her position.

She was also asked to bring with her Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) record including return wealth record, sales tax records, bank details, and details of properties which are owned by her or her dependent.

An FIA officer said the actress has ignored the letter, adding that legal proceedings will be started. Mirza didn’t respond to questions about the money-laundering investigation but a source close to her said she will contest it.

The original complaint of money laundering was registered against Mirza in September 2019 after which, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had been directed to launch a probe into the matter.

The Lahore-based former model is not new to controversies. In April 2018, she was acquitted in a fraud case due to insufficient evidence.

In September 2017, Judicial Magistrate of District Court Ahsan Raza issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Mirza allegedly involved in a fraud case.

The complainant, Shaikh Nasir, got a case registered at the Samanabad Police Station against Sofia Mirza, her brother Khurram Shehzad and others under sections 468/471, 419/420 of PPC.

He contended in the FIR that Mirza in connivance with her brother sold him a car LZM-5766. After purchasing the car, he sold it to another person. After that Mirza got registered a car theft case against him. When the car was confiscated by police, the car was being used by Mirza.

The actress and her sister, Mariam Mirza, had also been accused of abducting a girl, Fatima, in 2012 who had testified in the court both sisters had kidnapped her.

Fatima had alleged that both sisters promised her a lucrative job in the showbiz industry but later used her as a slave to do their domestic chores. When Fatima wanted to leave, she was held against her will and tortured for several days by both sisters. The police later said that her involvement in the alleged kidnapping could not be established.

Zahid Zahoor, Fatima’s stepfather, had said that police had favoured Mirza by releasing her without producing her before a court to seek a remand.

Latest News

Rainfall throughout the night stops flights in Lahore.

Published

18 hours ago

Farwa

Allama Iqbal International Airport experienced many hours of flight disruption due to the intense rainfall and windstorms that occurred overnight in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab.

Aviation sources claim that because of the monsoon weather, the flight operation was unable to operate between 3 and 4 am.

It is possible that the planes will arrive at the airport at 4 am.

Amidst delays in foreign airline flights, three aircraft made landings in Multan and Peshawar.

Riyadh flights arrived in Peshawar Airport, while flights scheduled to land in Lahore in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain ended up landing in Multan Airport.

Seven hours later than scheduled, the Qatar Airways flight from Doha arrived in Lahore.

Because of the bad weather, there are delays in the arrival and departure of numerous international planes.

Latest News

Changes to Pakistan’s Test team could be significant for the Bangladesh series.

Published

18 hours ago

Farwa

Major changes to Pakistan’s team are anticipated ahead of the forthcoming Test series against Bangladesh, sources in Lahore have revealed.

As the team gets ready for the series, meetings with the players are planned for next week.

It is predicted that the Test squad would undergo several changes. The team’s lineup is expected to be strengthened by the likely inclusion of Muhammad Huraira. Key players like Faheem Ashraf, Wasim Jr., Saim Ayub, and Nauman Ali, whose contributions are vital to the team’s success, struggle to get a spot on the squad.

Furthermore, according to sources, Imamul Haq or Sahibzada Farhan are anticipated to be added to the team, subject to additional assessment. Furthermore, following a fitness assessment, Amir Jamal and Hasan Ali’s futures will be determined.

The ultimate selection for the Test team will take place following Red Ball head coach Jason Gillespie’s return to Pakistan. The ultimate squad that will play Bangladesh in the forthcoming Test series will be greatly influenced by his assessments and thoughts.

Pakistan is scheduled to visit New Zealand in March and April of 2025, according to the country’s official cricket schedule, which was released earlier this month.

Throughout their visit, the Pakistan cricket team will play three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) in an exciting series.

The T20I series, which starts at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on March 16, will serve as the tour’s opening event.

Latest News

PM Meets With KP Lawmakers: Promises Progression and Relief Efforts in Province

Published

18 hours ago

Farwa

Khyber Pakhtunkhawa lawmakers are given assurances by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the province’s development, namely in the amalgamated districts, with a particular emphasis on the provision of standard health and educational facilities.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa National and Provincial Assembly members paid a visit to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at PM House.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister stated that the PML-N Government has always given priority to the development of the combined districts.

The prime minister promised that the combined Districts would have standard health and educational facilities, and that Danish Schools would be established nearby to offer local pupils an education of the highest caliber possible.

The PM also underlined the importance of promoting solar energy, combating electricity theft, and helping the middle class and impoverished.

He said that in order to boost the agriculture sector’s growth, expand the amount of land under cultivation, and reduce the nation’s reliance on foreign fuel imports, the government was converting agricultural tubewells to solar energy nationwide.

According to PM Shehbaz Sharif, the government recently provided significant reduction from electricity rates for those with low and moderate incomes.

At the event, he also announced the creation of a committee headed by the deputy prime minister, whose goal will be to identify long-term solutions to the issues facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s elected officials.

He argued that in order to preserve the nation from going into default, the current government had to make difficult political choices in order to revitalize the economy.

The parliamentarians gave Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif high marks for his visionary leadership in transforming Pakistan’s economy.