ISLAMABAD: In a historic development, Justice Aalia Neelum took the oath as the first woman Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday, following the approval of her appointment by President Asif Ali Zardari in a notification issued a day earlier.
The LHC has significant importance in dealing with pivotal constitutional and rights-related cases in Pakistan. It has also been served by several highly respected female jurists in the past, though none of them had been elevated to the top position to manage the court’s internal affairs.
A senior Supreme Court judge, Justice Ayesha Malik, was also part of the LHC before she was appointed to the apex court.
“Throughout her career, Justice Miss Aalia Neelum has demonstrated a strong commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment,” Pakistan’s state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency said in one of its reports.
“She has played a pivotal role in the establishment of Gender-Based Violence Courts and has been a vocal advocate for women’s rights,” it added.
Justice Neelum, who began her legal career in 1996, received a guard of honor before the Punjab Governor, Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, administered her the oath.
According to APP, she quickly took on cases in various domains after joining the legal profession, including constitutional law, white-collar crime, anti-terrorism, accountability and banking laws.
She became an LHC judge in 2015, and her appointment as the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court was made by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, headed by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Qazi Faez Isa, last week.
In a milestone development, Lahore High Court’s first woman chief justice takes oath
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In a milestone development, Lahore High Court’s first woman chief justice takes oath
- Justice Aalia Neelum’s appointment was made by CJP Faez Isa in a meeting last week
- She played a vital role in establishing Gender-Based Violence Courts during her career
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.
