The former President of Bank of Punjab (BoP) Hamesh Khan has been arrested and detained in the United States.

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed it to the Pakistani government.

The Bank of Punjab (BoP) had granted a loan of Rs 9 billion to the Haris Steel Industries (HSI) without fulfilling the legal requirements and the HSI subsequently defaulted on the loan. The bank then filed a petition against HSI and made BoP ex-President accomplice in the transaction – a charge its then President and CEO Hamesh Khan denies to-date calling it "witch-hunting" and "politically motivated".

The Spokesman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Ghazni Khan, Thursday confirmed Hamesh Khan’s arrest in the United States saying that the US Justice Department had also informed the Pakistani government in writing of his arrest and detention.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan had directed the federal government to arrest or have arrested, the former President of Bank of Punjab Hamesh Khan, who is said to be involved in billions of rupees of fraud case.

In pursuance of the Supreme Court orders, Islamabad approached the Interpol and the US government for his arrest, the NAB spokesman said.

Hamesh Khan was allegedly involved in Rs 9 billions fraud, but he fled from the country in June this year despite his name being on the Exit Control List (ECL) of the Interior Ministry which bars people from leaving the country.

Hamesh Khan would be brought back to the country after completion of formal legal proceedings and important documentations, the NAB spokesman said.

Earlier, on the directives of Supreme Court of Pakistan, a special team of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested main culprits of PunjabBank Fraud case, Sheikh Muhammad Afzal with his son Haris Afzal of Haris Steel Mills through the use of Interpol from Kuala-Lumpur, capital of Malaysia on November 16.

Other suspects industrialist Seth Yaqoob and his daughter Irum Yaqoob have also been detained and their assets frozen.   (MAMOSA)