Fake accounts case: Court extends bail of Asif Zardari, Faryal Talpur till March 5

KARACHI (92 News) – The banking court extended the bail of PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari and Faryal Talpur in the fake accounts case till March 5. Meanwhile, the court postponed the bail plea of Anvar Majeed and Abdul Ghani till February 20.

The court also extended the bail of the PPP leaders who appeared in court. It also sought a written reply from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) regarding transferring the money laundering case to Islamabad.

The prosecutor told court that the NAB chairman had signed the application for transferring the case to Islamabad and hence the bail pleas of the accused should not be heard. The court remarked that how they can hear the case if the Sindh High Court is hearing the case. The Malir jail doctor told court that the disease of Anvar Majeed will worsen if an operation was not performed on him. To a query, the FIA investigation officer told court that they are submitting a progress report to the Supreme Court. At this, the court asked the FIA to submit the reply in writing. The FIA also submitted a medical report to court for not producing Aslam Masood in court. It stated that they had obtained the five-day transit remand of Aslam Masood, but doctors stopped him from traveling. 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. Fake accounts case: JIT submits final report to SC Lahore Registry 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.