NAB requests court to freeze Zardari’s Clifton house in new inquiry

KARACHI (92 News) – The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday has prepared new inquiry against former president Asif Ali Zardari in connection with fake bank accounts case and requested court to freeze his Clifton house. According to the NAB, Zardari had constructed his house in Karachi’s Clifton with corruption as Rs15 crore for this residence was paid from the bank account of PPP leader’s stenographer Mushtaq. “Zardari has failed to provide proof of paying money for his Clifton house by himself,” NAB told. The bureau’s official said that stenographer Mushtaq had accompanied former president on 104 foreign visits. Zardari has not given satisfactory answers of questionnaire regarding his Clifton’s residence, NAB said. The anti-graft watchdog body further told that Mushtaq escaped when he was approached for interrogation. However, the NAB has requested the court to freeze Zardari’s Clifton house till completion of inquiry against him. Earlier, an accountability court in Islamabad has deferred the indictment of former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur in the money laundering case till July 24. Accountability Judge Azam Khan resumed hearing the reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Zardari, Faryal Talpur and close aides Omni Group head Anwar Majeed and Hussain Lawai among other accused. Talpur submitted a request for exemption from court hearing because of the coronavirus situation across the country. Judge Azam Khan said that the suspects can’t be indicted till the plea bargain of Zain Malik has been completed. NAB has been instructed to submit Malik’s report at least two days before the next hearing. The court, while accepting NAB investigating officer’s request of granting more time, adjourned the hearing till July 24. The money laundering case, which is a part of the fake account case, refers to the embezzlement of Rs4.4 billion. NAB has accused Zardari and Talpur of owning shares of the Zardari Group, a company that received some of the embezzled funds. Former president Asif Ali Zardari was released on Dec 13 on the orders of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the fake bank accounts and Park Lane cases on medical grounds – six months after his arrest from his F-8 residence.