ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani foreign office on Monday condemned a Houthi drone attack on Saudi Arabia’s Asir region and called for an “immediate cessation” of such assaults.
The Saudi Civil Defense said on Sunday it had received reports that a Houthi drone launched from Yemen toward one of the Asir region’s governorates had hit and damaged a school. No injuries were confirmed.
On Monday, Saudi Arabian air defenses intercepted and destroyed an armed drone launched by the Houthi group toward the southern Saudi city of Khamis Mushait, state television said, citing the Saudi-led military coalition, which has been battling the Houthis for over six years.
“These attacks not only violate the territorial integrity of the Kingdom but also threaten the lives of innocent people. We call for immediate cessation of such attacks,” the Pakistan foreign office said in a statement. “Pakistan reaffirms its full support and solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against any threats to its security and territorial integrity.”
Pakistan condemns Houthi drone attack targeting school in Saudi Arabia’s Asir region
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Pakistan condemns Houthi drone attack targeting school in Saudi Arabia’s Asir region
- Saudi air defenses destroy armed drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi group toward southern Saudi city of Khamis Mushait on Monday
- On Sunday, Saudi state media said drone rigged with explosives fell on school in Asir province but that no injuries were reported
Two Pakistani men indicted in $10 million Medicare fraud scheme in Chicago
- Prosecutors say defendants billed Medicare and private insurers for nonexistent services
- Authorities say millions of dollars in proceeds were laundered and transferred to Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani nationals have been indicted in Chicago for allegedly participating in a $10 million health care fraud scheme that targeted Medicare and private insurers, the US Justice Department said on Thursday.
A federal grand jury charged Burhan Mirza, 31, who resided in Pakistan, and Kashif Iqbal, 48, who lived in Texas, with submitting fraudulent claims for medical services and equipment that were never provided, according to an indictment filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Medicare is the US federal health insurance program primarily serving Americans aged 65 and older, as well as certain younger people with disabilities.
“Rooting out fraud is a priority for this Justice Department, and these defendants allegedly billed millions of dollars from Medicare and laundered the proceeds to Pakistan,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.
“These alleged criminals stole from a program designed to provide health care benefits to American seniors and the disabled, not line the pockets of foreign fraudsters,” he added. “We will not tolerate these schemes that divert taxpayer dollars to criminals.”
Prosecutors said that in 2023 and 2024, the defendants and their alleged co-conspirators used nominee-owned laboratories and durable medical equipment providers to bill Medicare and private health benefit programs for nonexistent services.
According to the indictment, Mirza obtained identifying information of individuals, providers and insurers without their knowledge and used it to support fraudulent claims submitted on behalf of shell companies. Iqbal was allegedly linked to several durable medical equipment providers that filed false claims and is accused of laundering proceeds and coordinating transfers of funds to Pakistan.
Mirza faces 12 counts of health care fraud and five counts of money laundering. Iqbal is charged with 12 counts of health care fraud, six counts of money laundering and one count of making a false statement to US law enforcement. Arraignments have not yet been scheduled.
Three additional defendants, including an Indian, previously charged in the investigation, have pleaded guilty to federal health care fraud charges and are awaiting sentencing.
An indictment contains allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
