Notices issued on Faryal's plea against FIA's interim challan

Banking court adjourns Hussain Lawai, Taha Raza's bail plea hearing

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court issued notices to all respondents on Faryal Talpur's petition against Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) interim challan in the Rs35 billion alleged money laundering case.

A two-member bench heard Talpur's petition against FIA's interim challan on Tuesday. Talpur's lawyer, Farooq H Naik, argued that Talpur has been declared an absconder in column number 2 of the challan and that it was approved in the same condition.

Nobody knew that Talpur was contesting elections and elected from PS-10, he said, adding that Faryal is not a culprit.

The judicial magistrate did not provide reasons for accepting the challan, the lawyer argued, saying that the courts had to provide them protection.



Money laundering hasn't been mentioned in FIA's FIR, the lawyer claimed, adding that Talpur's role is unclear in the challan and she has no link with the allegations and the FIR doesn't prove any corruption.

FIA's challan should be declared illegal and be suspended, he said, requesting a stay on FIA's challan and a stop to the ongoing investigation.

The bench issued notice to the involved parties and ordered them to submit written replies by August 9.

Hussain Lawai's bail plea

Meanwhile, a banking court adjourned the hearing of Asif Ali Zardari's close aide Hussain Lawai and Summit Bank Senior Vice-President Taha Raza's bail plea till August 2 in a money laundering case.

On Tuesday, during the hearing, the FIA authorities told the court that the investigation officer is sick and could not appear for the hearing, requesting for more time to present arguments.

The lawyer from the other side claimed that the FIA is deliberately delaying the case and the investigation officer was currently drafting a fake statement in his office.

The court adjourned the hearing till August 2.