ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Friday extended the judicial remand of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur till October 22 in cases pertaining to money laundering through fake bank accounts and Park Lane reference.
The former president and his sister were produced before the court amid strict security arrangements.
During the hearing, Accountability Judge Muhammad Bashir remarked that a course of action should be determined to avoid delay in proceedings as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar argued that a procedure was determined earlier as well.
To which, the judge replied that the number of suspects has now surged to 30 from 2 ever since.
The investigation officer of the case told Judge Bashir that the anti-corruption watchdog had asked the Interior Ministry to issue red warrants for Younis Qadwai and Azam Wazir, both of whom are nominated in the case and are currently abroad.
He said a supplementary reference will be filed by the next hearing. He further said that the supplementary reference has yet to be approved by the NAB chief.
The hearing was subsequently adjourned till October 22.
The case pertains to a massive money laundering scam that was being probed by the Federal Investigation Agency. The suspects include Zardari, Talpur, former Pakistan Stock Exchange chairman Hussain Lawai, Omni Group CEO Anwar Majeed and his sons and several other high profile persons. The case was later taken over by NAB on the Supreme Court’s orders.
ZARDARI MEETS CHILDREN:
While in court, the former president also met his daughters, Aseefa and Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari.
He also met Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who briefed him on his meeting with JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman, who has announced he will be setting out on a ‘long march’ on October 27 in a bid to bring down the government.
The two also discussed the country’s general political situation.
Zardari, in an informal conversation with the media, said his doctors had recommended that he should be shifted to a hospital because his blood sugar level often drops. He said that if he suddenly falls ill, the jail administration will not be able to get him medical help in time and suggested that a hospital ward be declared a sub-jail for him instead.
He also expressed support for the ‘Azadi march’ announced by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman that seeks to oust the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.
