Asif Zardari, Faryal Talpur’s pre-arrest bail extended till March 11

KARACHI (92 News) – The banking court extended the pre-arrest bail of PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur till March 11 in the mega money laundering scandal on Tuesday. Earlier, Faryal Talpur appeared before court. The accused, including Nimar Majeed and Zain Malik, were also present. Fake accounts case: JIT submits final report to SC Lahore Registry Moreover, the court accepted Asif Zardari’s plea seeking exemption from appearance. The court provided the accused with the copies pertaining to shifting of the case to Islamabad. SC issues notices to Asif Zardari, Malik Riaz in fake accounts case During the last hearing, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had informed the court that a joint investigation team (JIT) probing the case had submitted its report in the Supreme Court and a decision was yet to be made. However, Zardari's counsel Farooq H Naek had pointed out that till a final challan is not submitted there can be no headway in the case. The FIA has not yet submitted a final challan in the case in the court.

Money laundering case

The FIA is investigating 32 people in relation to money laundering from fictitious accounts, including Zardari and Talpur. Zardari’s close aide Hussain Lawai was arrested in July in connection with the probe. The former president’s other close aide and Omni Group chairman Anwar Majeed a close aide and Omni Group chairman and his son, Abdul Ghani, were arrested by FIA in August. Over 20 ‘benami’ accounts at some private banks were opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015 from where transactions worth billions of rupees were made, according to sources. The amount, according to FIA sources, is said to be black money gathered from various kickbacks, commissions and bribes.