Islamabad (Staff Report): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday extended the interim pre-arrest bail of former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur in the fake bank accounts case till June 10.
A two-member IHC bench, comprising of Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani and Justice Aamer Farooq, presided over the proceedings of the application seeking permanent bail for Zardari and his sister.
During the hearing, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) presented details regarding the case before the bench.
NAB’s additional prosecutor Jahanzeb Bharwana presented three reports before the court as evidence on the involvement of Zardari and his sister in the case.
To which, Zardari’s defense counsel, Farooq H Naek sought more time from the court “as new documents have been furnished today.”
After hearing arguments from the NAB prosecutor and Zardari’s counsel Farooq H Naik, the court extended the interim bail of the PPP leaders till June 10.
This is pertinent to mention that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is investigating 32 people, including Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur in connection with money laundering through fake accounts.
Zardari’s close aide Hussain Lawai was arrested in July in connection with the probe.
Former president's other close aide and Omni Group chairman Anwar Majeed and his son Abdul Ghani were also arrested by FIA in this connection.
Over 20 ‘benami’ accounts were opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015 in some banks from where transactions worth billions of rupees were made, according to sources.
According to FIA sources, the amount is said to be black money gathered from various kickbacks, commissions and bribes.
