ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday extended the interim bails of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur in the money laundering case till June 10.
The money laundering case is part of the investigations being conducted by NAB in pursuance of the Supreme Court’s verdict in the money laundering of billions of rupees through fake accounts case wherein it forwarded the joint investigation team (JIT) report with directions to investigate and file references.
Other suspects include Omni Group’s Anwar Majeed and his son Abdul Ghani Majeed, former Pakistan Stock Exchange chairman Hussain Lawai, Summit Bank Senior Vice President Taha Raza.
During the hearing, the two-member bench comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani and Justice Amir Farooq was briefed on the case by NAB prosecutor Jahanzeib Bharwana.
Bharwana said the bureau had tracked the transfer of Rs1.5bn to an account linked to the Zardari Group of Companies from an account identified to be fake. “The account holder had no idea that the account existed on his name,” he explained. “The transaction was flagged as suspicious by the State Bank of Pakistan.”
Justice Farooq inquired whether the anti-graft bureau had enough to initiate an investigation under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2010. “Yes, we can launch an investigation without meeting requirements of the act,” replied Bharwana.
Advocate Farooq H Naek presented arguments from the defense. When lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa attempted to present ‘different’ arguments, Justice Kiyani reminded him that the bench was hearing a bail plea not a civil case. “This is not a trial,” added Justice Farooq.
The court denied Naek’s request to submit a reply to NAB’s document outlining details of the mega money laundering case.
On May 14, the anti-corruption unit furnished details of inquiries, investigations and references in the fake accounts case. In the report, NAB listed down at least eight cases where Zardari’s link had been established. It further added that 22 inquiries and three investigations are underway while three references have been filed.