Zardari rejects JIT report, terms it ‘false, fabricated’

Former president, his sister Faryal submit 17-page reply in apex court

ISLAMABAD: Former president Asif Ali Zardari has termed the findings of the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) joint investigation team “false and fabricated”, claiming that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Faryal Talpur were never involved in the day-to-day affairs of the Zardari Group.
Zardari and Talpur, through their counsel Farooq H Naek, submitted a 17-page reply in the apex court on Saturday.

The reply states, “It is apparent that the JIT in collusion with the federal government has tried to falsely involve the Zardari family.
“This is proved by blatant manipulation by the JIT which maliciously and purposely ignored responses, justification and defence provided by the Zardari Group and family.”



It also questions leaking of the JIT report to the media and ministers.
The reply also objected to the JIT recommendation to refer the matter to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for inquiry/references, adding that any such order by the SC would violate the right to fair trial under Article 10-A of the Constitution. “Only the JIT wants to obtain the stamp of the Supreme Court,” it added.
The reply says that JIT did not communicate the allegations to the Zardari family prior to the probe.
“The probe of Park Lane Company falls outside the ambit of the JIT. The role of Younas Kudwai has been discussed in a fabricated manner and he has been falsely alleged as front-man of Asif Ali Zardari.”



It also contends that the JIT has totally ignored the responses, defence and justifications given by the Zardari family in response to the JIT questions.
On Saturday, the JIT, which unearthed the Rs42 billion money laundering scam, requested the Supreme Court to freeze all assets of Zardari and the Omni Group.
FIA’s attorney Faisal Siddiqi submitted an application in the apex court along with a list of the alleged assets of Zardari and Omni Group, whose owners are among the key accused in the scam that involves the alleged transfer of billions of rupees through fake bank accounts.