Fake accounts case: Zardari, Talpur appear before accountability court.

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Sindh lawmaker Faryal Talpur appeared before an accountability court in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Judge Arshad Malik is hearing a case pertaining to money laundering of billions through fake accounts.

PPP's top leadership, Omni Group's Anwar Majeed and his son Abdul Ghani Majeed, former Pakistan Stock Exchange chairperson Hussain Lawai, Summit Bank Senior Vice-President Taha Raza are among those being investigated in cases related to the fake accounts scandal. The matter is also being heard by the Supreme Court.

The case was transferred to Islamabad after a Karachi banking court accepted the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) transfer request filed following the Supreme Court judgment forwarding the joint investigation team (JIT) report to the bureau with directions to investigate and file references.

On Tuesday, the accountability court dismissed post-arrest bail pleas submitted by Lawai and Raza. The single-judge bench was annoyed by the continued absence of suspects imprisoned in Karachi. Abdul Ghani Majeed filed exemption request on medical grounds. 'Although production orders were produced but he cannot travel due to health issues,' said his counsel.

NAB Investigating Officer Muhammad Ali Abro informed court that the bureau had written a letter to the chief secretary of Sindh and the superintendent of Malir Jail but neither had responded. 'We even suggested air ambulance to transfer the suspects,' he added.

Accountability court summons Zardari, Talpur on April 8

Pre-arrest bail plea

Meanwhile, Zardari has filed yet another pre-arrest bail plea in the Islamabad High Court fearing arrest. In the petition, the former president accuses the anti-graft watchdog of sending 'call-up notice' with 'malafide intentions and ulterior motives to detain and arrest' him.

The PPP co-chairman has received interim bail in seven call-up notices so far. This is his eighth petition.

The notice in question pertains to payments worth Rs17 million made in May-June 2015 from illegal proceeds of money have been credited into the accounts of Abdul Nadeem Bhutto, Omni Aviation, Princely Jett and Fazal e Rabbi (Pvt) Ltd. The payments were portrayed as expenses incurred for the Naudero House.

Zardari has sought bail before arrest till final conclusion of the trial and interim bail before arrest until then. He has against sought a list of all cases the bureau is filing against him.

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