Glamour turns grim as Ayyan investigations reach her mother
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RAWALPINDI: Investigations into model Ayyan Ali’s alleged dirty deals and money smuggling have widened to include her mother and other associates.
Sources close to the investigation said the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) wants to know if her mother Farhat Sultan and Dubai-based Najeeb Haroon, whom Ayyan sold files of five plots in Bahria Town through the deal-maker Mumtaz Hussain, evaded any taxes.
“We will also look into ‘money laundering’ charges if any evidence surfaces that the money Ayyan was carrying when caught could be used in criminal activities,” Additional Director Qaisar Ishfaq of the Internal Revenue told Dawn.
Read: ‘Interim challan states Ayyan is guilty’
She faces two-year imprisonment, and fine, if convicted of the charge, he said.
Ayyan was caught at the Islamabad international airport on March 14 with a suitcase-full of half a million dollars and stopped from leaving for Dubai. She is in jail since and is being investigated.
An FBR team, headed by Director General Haroon M.K. Tareen, has been investigating Ayyan’s tax record, her sources of income, from whom she got $500,000.
Also read: Middleman, buyer in Ayyan’s real estate deal to be arrested
FBR’s Intelligence and Investigation Wing is also trying to find out which money changer the dollars came from. It is also looking into the bank accounts of the mother and daughter, and details of the payments she received for modeling and appearance in advertisements.
Sources say the wing will ask the Customs investigators to give it access to the CCTV footage of Ayyan’s arrival at Islamabad airport.
It reportedly showed a man receiving her and carrying her suitcase stuffed with dollars through the Rawal Lounge, which is meant for the VIPs only.
Tax investigators are keen to have access to the CCTV images of the scene, the data of Ayyan’s cellphone, her suitcase and other belongings she was carrying, such as her cheque book.
“CCTV images will help us identify the mysterious man who facilitated Ayyan at the airport like a protocol officer,” said one investigator.
Though the man’s identity has not been disclosed by any investigating agency, reports have appeared that the pass issued to a personal assistant of a former president, that allowed the holder access to all airports in the country, was cancelled in the wake of the botched money smuggling incident.
Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2015
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Comments (56) Closed
May 07, 2015 08:05am
How long the investigating team will try to fool the public of Pakistan.It is really strange that two top agencies could not open up her mobile phone data so far.The solution is simple asked the cellular phone companies to provide you the details of phone calls received and called from her two number one hour before and one hour after her arrest.The real culprits will be found who are behind money smuggling.It appears that there is no will on the part of the government and its agencies to find the real culprits.
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May 07, 2015 08:26am
good move ..
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May 07, 2015 08:43am
Why is this being prolonged so much? Definitely very big fish is involved and deals are being made in background. People behind her will ever be punished. This is the sad truth.
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May 07, 2015 08:49am
Why her only. Many of our super stars including models, doctors, actors, singers, cricketers etc dont pay proper taxes and have millions outside. What to talk of politicians who are the worst tax evaders? FBR does not have the courage to go near these VIPs and in her case they are using all means available....Cowards
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May 07, 2015 09:16am
Nobody will be punished, as usual.
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May 07, 2015 09:18am
Lets see if justice prevails... !
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May 07, 2015 09:28am
This is pathetic and lamentable that still the premimum investigating agencies are trying to identify the mysterious man who facilitated Ayyan at the airport through CCTV,her cell phone data and other informations.This shows the case is in very week hand and I am sure sarkari vakeel will evetuly loose this case.
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May 07, 2015 09:47am
@UMAR She's already in Jail. What on earth you mean that she won't be punshed?
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May 07, 2015 09:59am
@Kamal do u really believe they could not get their hands to the required information? infact deals are being negotiated or on the optimistic note, they are really reaching the neck of culprit by being innocent of not knowing anything .
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May 07, 2015 10:03am
Nothing will happen to these big fish
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May 07, 2015 10:20am
@aslam shaikh What deals? its a new Pakistan.
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May 07, 2015 10:22am
Try to catch the big fish and investigate the persons who came to her rescue when she was nabbed at the airport.
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May 07, 2015 10:29am
I am surprised at the pace. I request the court to file criminal and deliberate negligence cases against the investigators. Moral of the story-nothing will happen.
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May 07, 2015 10:33am
If they are not interested to catch the big fish then leave her free too. What a wastage of time and national sources.
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May 07, 2015 10:42am
Get over with learn from India put her in Jail for at least 20 YEARS set an example Pakistan is TRUE Islamic State and Islam serve JUSTICE
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May 07, 2015 10:49am
@aslam shaikh We always think negative. I've no doubt that there are must be big fish and Ayyan just a facilitator but why we are thinking that there are deal being made. May be they are looking for solid evidence against that big fish.
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May 07, 2015 10:59am
it is sad to read the way of investigation and the the way they are asking access to the CCTV and not been able to it- This shows a very poor arrangement between the teams including the airport security ,custom and all related Bodies and this goes to the law and government having no system at all to bring the culprit within no time. Some one need to stand in ruling party and kick them off to give all what investigation team need without any delay. Pakistan is a rich country with lot of Resources and we are still poor because every thing is stolen like dollars.
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May 07, 2015 11:08am
this country belongs to rich people , so nobody will be punished in this case . I am not new in Pakistan
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May 07, 2015 11:23am
Can we please spend more time in catching these corrupt politicians who are money laundering every single day. I expect they are money laundering via diplomatic bags. Finance minister Dar has already confessed to money laundering for Nawaz Sharif ,yet he still remains the Finance Minister. He manages to send $4 million to his son in Dubai? Can we find out where he got the money from and whether he used certified channels to transfer this money?
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May 07, 2015 11:33am
She looks pretty as usual.
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May 07, 2015 11:58am
She is just the proxy, catch the people behind this if you want to do justice and satisfy the nation
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May 07, 2015 12:31pm
It is a white wash to deceive the masses. Will we ever learn who were involved- I don't think so
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May 07, 2015 12:42pm
Basic investigation not yet done even after more than 2 months?
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May 07, 2015 01:42pm
Let this be the example.. For heavens sake learn from India and do justice how it should be done.. Look at salman kahn example.
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May 07, 2015 01:55pm
@aslam shaikh
Why is she treated as guilty before trial in a court of law?
She may be innocent and her reputation is being ruined by the "Baboos" who keep giving running commentary on the proceedings.
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May 07, 2015 02:09pm
"We will also look into ‘money laundering’ charges" means they are already ruling that out to save her and the big fish.
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May 07, 2015 02:27pm
Why would a Dubai based plot buyer pay for it Pakistan ? And why would Ayyan receive the money in Pakistan and then try to smuggle it out ? This is a red herring.
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May 07, 2015 02:37pm
Why is PTI silent on this?
This appears to be a huge corruption cover-up. Why don't they raise the issue in the national assembly?
opposition, where art thou?
...oops, just recalled, the former president now co-chairpersons an opposition party.
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May 07, 2015 03:05pm
@Rabz ..Salman Khan case is nothing but eye wash he will never serve jail and pay the fine. Ayyan didn't hit and run her case is different.
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May 07, 2015 03:16pm
entire Pakistani media is showing Ayyan's case as if it happened first time in our history and rest of the country had never heard of money laundering. Why Rahman Malik's brother not engaged until now in investigation chain / whereas he did his best to bail her out of Airport when she was caught with half million dollars. her mother, her brother, her bag is all nonsense - let us know who is the politician involved behind this scam.
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May 07, 2015 03:52pm
Why are we beating up this little fish when there are very very large size fish who have already siphoned off billions and billions out of Pakistan?
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May 07, 2015 03:53pm
This matter is getting really serious now and it seems its just the tip of the iceberg and with time many big names will be revealed. Ayyans nexus with staff of former president is further bad news for zardari
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May 07, 2015 04:01pm
The focus has shifted from Rehman Malik's brother and ex-President's P.A. who were very much involved in the beginning......... this is being scripted to look like so big fish are involved and that is absurd.
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May 07, 2015 04:11pm
What a drama being created at the moment with this case - nothing is going to happen, she only have to use her charm diplomatically and she is bailed out
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May 07, 2015 04:12pm
@Rabz Right..... justice served after almost 13 years.
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May 07, 2015 04:13pm
@aslam shaikh ... Indeed big fish eats the small one. we don't have a net long enough to catch that kind of fish... The agencies know their limitations quite well..very soon every one will be shut up provided the price is right...All things are subject to interpretation whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.
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May 07, 2015 04:26pm
@gerry d ...that is the novel form of entertainment we have for the time being...Conflicts, courts hearing, and criminal charges in Pakistan are nothing but dramas, and how people deal with these events show you the kind of people they are.
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May 07, 2015 04:58pm
Longer the investigation, deeper the involvement of whales involved.
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May 07, 2015 04:59pm
I think she is paying the price of not obeying the orders of the then Customs officers / officials....rest of the drama has played alot in history.
80 odd visits abroad within a year, almost 7 visits per month, way higher than NS who is famous for frequent flying....i believe she is known for a majority of staff working around airports in Pakistan...
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May 07, 2015 04:59pm
@zubaida khan
New Pakistan?! That's good - after 68 years! The front line is almost repeatedly the same corrupt persons.
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May 07, 2015 05:02pm
The whole story is revolving around:
"reports have appeared that the pass issued to a personal assistant of a former president, that allowed the holder access to all airports in the country"
Simply get proof and get the ex-president on board ASAP.
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May 07, 2015 05:04pm
@shafiq : She has a huge celebrity value and every one that gets a chance, struggles to get a shadow-chase for self !
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May 07, 2015 05:17pm
@zubaida khan where is new Pakistan. Ever increasing pollution of air and water while our politicians think their AC homes and cars protect them from it. plus their properties in Europe and North America has clean air. Industries are suffering with power shutdowns while politicians try to make money in every deal for increasing power generation. Politicians still fighting crazy to grab anything they can. Everything is still the same. There is a hidden power still keeping it all together and working.
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May 07, 2015 07:33pm
Sir, it is very interesting that the FBR is harassing Ayyan on daily bases. While all our polititions are full of looting the country. FBR has no courage against the people with large stomach.
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May 07, 2015 10:24pm
Please don't shoot 'messenger' get the 'message sender'.
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May 07, 2015 10:31pm
Rap her on the knuckle's and let her go,. she is just a young woman lured by greed and even greedier men. The real thieves are running free and no one dares investigate them, already she has suffered she is just a kid, the proof is that she was stupid enough to think she will get away, People send this kind of money everyday via banks, you just have to pay a premium.
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May 07, 2015 10:35pm
She works for all big crook politicians so for sure at end nothing gonna happened all is topee drama!
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May 08, 2015 02:08am
@M.Saeed what celebrity value no one had ever heard of her before she was caught red handed.
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May 08, 2015 05:12am
A very good Pakistani friend of mine, who lived in Frankfurt before migrating to the US, told me of the countless relatives and friends of his who would descend on him and make trips to deposit loads of money in banks around Europe. These people, he assured me, were not from the very top echelons of Pakistani bureaucracy or business or the military. Black money has permeated every walk of life. And, every strata of society. In India, the third largest source of black money is education business! Whoever thought that institutions of learning would one day decay into chess pools of corruption? Governments of India and Pakistan, not unlike many others around the world, are not powerless to deal with these issues. They are rotten to the core and are part of the problem. That explains all the foot dragging.
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May 08, 2015 05:48am
South Asian celebrities are being sentenced to five years these days.
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May 08, 2015 06:03am
@Dr Khan
Her mother looks like death warmed over. The authorities are not after her mother. They have scared any arrogance out of her though. She will be more than willing to tell what she knows. Detectives put the pressure on to see what surfaces.
Often women smuggling drugs, money or guns are doing it for their boyfriends.
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May 08, 2015 06:04am
She is scapegoat. Hundreds of people carry large sums. Agencies are taking undue advantage of this model. She should not have been custody and seems she has been framed. Sorry for her.
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May 08, 2015 06:07am
@A Khan
You can go to the court and approach the judge as "a friend of the court" if you know anything of the case.
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May 08, 2015 06:14am
@Kamal
That man would be an airport policeman on someone's payroll. The usual fix was in, and she was caught in what before had been a simple and safe routine.
Police procedures may have changed since the airport robbery.
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May 08, 2015 06:17am
@rahat
To catch a shark we need a larger hook.
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May 08, 2015 06:29am
@Justice
Four million. A nice birthday present! No doubt tax free in Dubai.
Thanks to the Muslim ummah money changing is available.
You have the poor man's Muslim ummah. They have the rich man's Muslim ummah.
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