The Islamabad High Court has refused a petition seeking to dismiss a money laundering case against social media influencer and dermatologist Dr Fozila Abbasi. The court also denied her request for an extension of pre-arrest bail, while authorities have reportedly formed teams to facilitate her arrest.
The case centers on allegations of unlawful transfer of funds abroad, including to the United States and Dubai, involving transactions amounting to Rs2.5 billion (approximately $8.9 million). Investigations by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) uncovered financial activity across 22 bank accounts linked to Abbasi, with a total turnover of Rs2.5 billion. This figure starkly contrasts with her declared annual income, which ranged between Rs400,000 and Rs6 million tax records.
In a significant development, the FIA investigation revealed additional evidence suggesting possible money laundering, with the alleged amount now exceeding Rs3 billion. The court instructed investigators to proceed with their inquiry under the law, emphasizing that foreign exchange regulation proceedings should continue.
However, the court ruled that actions taken under anti-money laundering laws were invalid due to procedural errors by the FIA. It further stated that the involvement of tax authorities in the matter would be clarified during the ongoing investigation.
The court granted investigators the authority to freeze or unfreeze bank accounts as necessary, noting that accounts would be released if allegations were not substantiated. Meanwhile, Dr Abbasi’s legal representative has not provided any comment on the case.
Dr Fozila Abbasi, a dermatologist and elder sister of actor Hamza Ali Abbasi, is a prominent social media personality in Pakistan and has frequently appeared on television programs.
