ISLAMABAD: Special Correspondent: Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has sought formal legal assistance from the Government of Mauritius in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption and money laundering linked to Bahria Town Karachi, well-informed law enforcement sources told The News.
According to the sources, NAB has invoked the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, and the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010 to request Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) from the Mauritian authorities. The request seeks the freezing of identified bank accounts, access to financial records, and broader cooperation in tracing allegedly laundered assets.
Sources said the investigation is being conducted by NAB Karachi, while the international legal assistance request was processed through NAB Headquarters after approval by the Chairman NAB and transmitted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Government of Mauritius.
According to the sources, investigators allege that funds generated through the Bahria Town Karachi project were moved out of Pakistan using a network of front companies and informal hawala/hundi channels. The alleged scheme involved transferring cash from Pakistan to the United Arab Emirates before routing the money to Mauritius.
The investigation reportedly refers to multiple financial transactions involving Vicky Trading (Private) Limited, including transfers of approximately Rs335 million, Rs150 million and Rs351 million. NAB believes these funds were subsequently converted into cash and transferred abroad through hawala/hundi operators.
Sources further disclosed that the investigation identifies a series of dollar transfers from Emirates NBD Bank in the UAE to accounts maintained with Silver Bank Mauritius. According to the investigation, approximately US$2.7 million was transferred on March 6, 2017, US$1.2 million on July 25, 2017, and US$2.5 million on January 19, 2018.
The accounts in Mauritius have been linked in the investigation to Ahmed Ali Riaz and Mubashra Ali Malik. NAB has requested the Mauritian authorities to freeze the accounts, preserve all banking records, provide complete transaction histories, identify the beneficial owners, and share all relevant financial documentation with Pakistani investigators.
Sources said the MLA request also names Malik Riaz Hussain, Ahmed Ali Riaz, and Mubashra Ali Malik, stating that evidence gathered during the investigation points to alleged overseas financial transactions and assets requiring verification through international cooperation.
According to the sources, NAB has asked Mauritius to treat the request on a priority basis under the framework of UNCAC, seeking assistance in tracing assets, preserving evidence, freezing relevant bank accounts, and providing financial intelligence to support the ongoing investigation into alleged corruption and money laundering.
