Zardari, Faryal record statements before JIT in money laundering case.

KARACHI -- Former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur on Wednesday appeared individually and recorded their statement before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) investigating Rs35 billion money laundering case involving several fake bank accounts.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had also summoned Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to record his statement. However, he could not appear before the JIT today.

According to the party leaders, instead of appearing before the JIT, Bilawal will give a written response to the questions given to him by the FIA through his lawyer.

Both Talpur and the PPP co-chairman approximately spent an hour and a half each before the investigators at the FIA complex.

Bilawal to skip JIT hearing on fake accounts

Strict security measures were taken to thwart any untoward incident taking place. Bomb disposal squad and sniffing dogs had cleared the whole area before the arrival of two PPP leaders. A heavy contingent of Rangers was also deployed besides sharp shooters on rooftops of the surrounding buildings.

Sources told The Express Tribune that a six-member JIT interrogated Zardari and Talpur regarding the alleged transfer of ill-gotten money in Zardari Group's bank accounts.

Other matters including illegal allotment of public land in Sindh, corruption of different provincial government institutions, providing facilities to influential property developer in violation with the code of conduct, transfer of 'black money' through hawala and hundi and questions regarding the overseas properties were also asked by the JIT members.

Both PPP leaders avoided interacting with media representatives on the occasion.

Earlier, the FIA in its report had claimed that investigation of bank accounts' inter-linkages proved that personal account of former president Zardari was...