AC summons Zardari, Faryal in money-laundering case

ISLAMABAD: Former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur will appear in the same accountability court, Islamabad on April 8 in money laundering case, which awarded seven years impressment to the PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif in Al-Azizia reference.

The accountability court has summoned Asif Zardari, Faryal Talpur and other accused in money laundering case on April 8.

For the first time, Zardari will appear before the accountability court Judge Arshad Malik in money laundering case after its transfer to Islamabad from Karachi.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) requested the banking court in Karachi, which was initially hearing the case, to transfer it to Islamabad.

Zardari, Faryal, Hussain Lawai, Anwar Majeed and other accused are facing charges and inquiry in money laundering case through fake bank accounts.

Earlier, a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was formed on the orders of the Supreme Court to probe the alleged money laundering.

The JIT report revealed that 29 fake accounts were identified by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) which laundered Rs42 billion.

The report said that fake bank accounts were opened through Omni Group and the ultimate beneficiary of money laundering is Zardari’s family.

The JIT report further states that the team has discovered 11,500 bank accounts of 924 account holders, 59 suspicious transaction reports (STRs) and 24,500 cash transactions reports (CTRs). The JIT in its 128 pages report also recommended the NAB reference against the accused.