Another fake accounts case accused seeks to become approver

Zardari, Talpur granted 10-day extension in pre-arrest bail

ISLAMABAD:  

The fake accounts case against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur strengthened on Monday as one more accused expressed willingness to become an approver.

Omni Group’s Anwar Majeed and his sons, and former Pakistan Stock Exchange chairperson Hussain Lawai, are among others being investigated in a case related to money laundering of billions through fictitious bank accounts.

The matter was forwarded to an accountability court in Islamabad after a Karachi banking court accepted the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) transfer request – which came following the Supreme Court’s decision wherein the joint investigation team (JIT) report was referred to NAB.

On Monday, Zardari and Talpur appeared before Judge Muhammad Arshad Malik. NAB prosecutor informed the court that one of the accused, Sher Muhammad, had filed a request to become an approver.

The prosecutor also informed the court that the bureau was processing the request of Muhammad along with two other applications moved by Noreen Sultan and Kiran Aman to become approvers in the matter.

On Monday, the judge sought explanation about Lawai’s absence. The prosecutor said NAB had written to Sindh chief secretary twice for Lawai’s appearance in court but received no reply. The judge directed NAB to take up the matter with Sindh government.

The judge said the court would contact the Sindh High Court (SHC) on the matter. The court granted 10-day extension in pre-arrest bail of Zardari and Talpur against surety bonds worth Rs2 million and adjourned the hearing until May 9.

Separately, a divisional bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhter Kiyani, on Monday extended the pre-arrest bail of Zardari and Talpur till May 15, in the money laundering and fake accounts case.

Justice Farooq said that NAB should not play the game of hide and seek and it must tell clearly how many inquiries were under way against Zardari. Justice Kiyani asked about the cases in which arrest warrants had been issued.

During the hearing, NAB Prosecutor Muzaffar Abbasi informed the court that the NAB chairman had issued arrest warrants for Zardari only in the Park Lane case. Justice Kiyani then asked if NAB would "give a surprise" to Zardari and Talpur.

The judge said that number was not an issue but one must know how many inquiries he faces. He expressed surprise that a person faces cases but he is not informed about it. He directed NAB to inform Zardari and Talpur in which cases they would be arrested, to allay their apprehensions.

The bench asked the NAB officials to submit a detailed reply and explain how many inquiries were under process against the former president. The bench then adjourned further hearing until May 15.

Zardari, Talpur and other accused are facing charges of laundering more than Rs35 billion through fake bank accounts. Zardari's close aides Hussain Lawai and Anwar Majeed have also been nominated in the scam, who are in judicial custody.

Talking to reporters later, Zardari criticised NAB, saying that either the anti-graft watchdog would function in the country or the national economy. “They both cannot work together,” he was quoted by Express News as saying.

Zardari expressed willingness to participate in Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s anti-government movement. Responding to a question he appeared sceptical about the fact that the incumbent government would complete its tenure.