FIA declares Zardari, Faryal absconders in money laundering case

–Hussain Lawai, Anwar Majeed and 21 others also declared absconders in Rs35bn mega-scandal

–Zardari’s spokesperson alleges political victimisation, calling the report ‘malafide’

KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday declared former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur absconders in the money laundering case.

A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar had taken suo motu notice into the FIA’s probe of a Rs35 billion money-laundering scam — during the hearing of which even reports emerged of the two PPP leaders being put on the Exit Control List (ECL).

The duo was declared absconders in the case which also nominates others including Zardari’s close aide and former Pakistan Stock Exchange chairman Hussain Lawai, businessman Anwar Majeed, his son and 20 others.

SPOKESPERSON DENIES REPORT:

Amir Fida Paracha, the spokesman of the former president Zardari, said that “the news flashed on television channels about Asif Ali Zardari being an absconder is malafide, false, concocted and to politically victimise, malign and defame the former President.”

Denying the report, Paracha claimed that FIA DG Bashir Memon was a staunch enemy of the PPP and its leadership as his brother was contesting election from Sindh as a GDA candidate. “Bashir Memon wants to influence these elections in favor of his brother using his official position. PPP has umpteen times demanded his removal from the post for election process to be free, fair and transparent,” he added.

The PPP spokesman said that FIA Additional Director General Najaf Quli Mirza was involved in the incident in which Asif Ali Zardari was tortured and his tongue was slashed. Asif Ali Zardari had filed a case against him still to be heard, he said.

Paracha pointed out that the report submitted by the FIA in Supreme Court never mentioned Zardari as accused. He said that the above two officers were tasked to malign the PPP co-chairman.

Earlier, the PPP co-chairman denied involvement in the scam.

Speaking during an interview earlier this month, he said that he will face the bogus cases like he did in the past, adding that he was sent a notice of Rs150 million rather than the propagated Rs35 billion.

He also said that it was the time for the election, not for accountability, and that his party would not boycott the forthcoming polls. He added that accountability should take place either before or after election season.

“We won’t give anyone opportunity by boycotting the election,” he added.

Rejecting the allegations against him, the PPP leader said he has faced cases before and will do so again.

The FIA inquiry started when the financial monitoring unit of the State Bank of Pakistan generated a ‘suspicious transaction report’ in January this year regarding 10 bank accounts.

Sources said that over 20 ‘benami’ accounts at a private bank were opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015 from where transactions worth billions of rupees were made.

The amount according to FIA sources is said to be black money gathered from various kickbacks, commissions and bribes. But despite these huge transactions, the bank authorities never reported them to the authorities concerned including the FIA.