Was PM media coordinator, admits Khurram

ISLAMABAD: The former media coordinator of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Khurram Rasool admitted today that he had been the media advisor for the chief executive.

While recording statement before the Supreme Court (SC), he said my family has been threatened, insulted and my children could not go to school for the past 1 year.

'I was told even PM will be kidnapped, I surrendered as I have confidence in courts. 'Claims of Afghan Carpet are being heard in Sindh High Court (SHC) and only Rs 10-11 million remain outstanding.

Rashid A Rizvi, the businessmen's lawyer said Khurram gave cheques from accounts that had been closed and allegations of threats are wrong.

The former media coordinator Khurram Rasool was presented before the SC today.

Khurram Rasool surrendered himself to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on early Friday morning. He has been convicted in the banking fraud case and Rawalpindi Accountability Court had sentenced Khurram Rasool to three years in jail on Thursday.

The Supreme Court on January 25 directed FIA to immediately arrest Khurram Rasool and produce him on January 27.

The three-Judge bench of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez, in its order also warned Director General FIA Tahseen Anwar Shah to comply with its directive, otherwise, failure would have serious legal consequences.

The bench was hearing an application moved by Parvez Hussain, a businessman of Afghan carpets, accusing Khurram Rasool of defrauding him of Rs 430 million.

FIA Additional Director General Sajjad Ahmed apprised the bench that they had received statement of Khushnood Lashari Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Waseem Ahmed and Malik Iqbal, former Director Generals of FIA, in which they had denied the allegations of influencing the investigation of case.

Talking to the media after surrendering, Khurram said that he has been receiving life threats, therefore he went on missing. He said that his family was also facing threats and his children could not attend schools for one year.

Khurram Rasool said that he was forced to signed cheques. He showed confidence over judiciary and hoped justice.