Fake bank accounts: Case transferred to Islamabad under SC’s instruction, SHC told

KARACHI: The transfer of multi-billion fake bank accounts case against former President and Pakistan People Party’s co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur to the administrative judge of accountability courts in Islamabad was made under the specific instructions and directions of Supreme Court, the National Accountability Bureau’s prosecutor told Sindh High Court on Tuesday. Filing comments in SHC on applications against banking court order about the transfer of the case to accountability courts in Islamabad, NAB’s additional prosecutor general submitted that applications was not maintainable as Asif Ali Zardari and Faryal Talpur did not come court with clean hands. He submitted that application against the banking court order was filed to defeat the process of justice. He submitted that SC had specifically issued directions to transfer all the material and evidence collected by the Joint Investigation Team to the NAB immediately. The NAB's counsel submitted that final synthesis report of the JIT was discussed by the Supreme Court and the banking court's order has to be followed in its letter and spirit. He argued that order cannot be intervened by the high court as it was passed by the special court under the directions of the SC. He also argued that the SC had ordered the NAB to conduct any further probe or investigation if it considers appropriate to determine the true facts at Islamabad. The defendants counsel Farooq H Naek sought time to file reply to the NAB comments. The SHC’s division bench headed by Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh directed the counsel to come prepared and adjourned the hearing on April 2.